Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
Cricket

News

Break will help Marsh

North: Break will help Marsh

02/02/2012 10:30:20 AM

Former Test batsman Marcus North believes Warriors team-mate Shaun Marsh's return to domestic cricket will allow him to break the form slump which has jeopardised his Australian spot.

Marsh will return to the Western Australian side for the top-of-the-table Sheffield Shield match in Queensland beginning on Monday after a poor international summer.

The 28-year-old scored just 17 runs at an average of below three in his four Tests against India, putting him under pressure to hold onto his spot at No.3.

Marsh also found himself out of the side for the first Twenty20 International against India on Wednesday and was dropped from the Australian squad for the first three games of the Commonwealth Bank Series.

And North, who knows all too well about the pressure of international cricket after he was dumped from the Australian side during last summer's Ashes tour, said that could be just what Marsh needed to get back in form.

"There's no hiding the fact that he's in a bit of a horrible run and he's out of confidence and out of form but I think it's a great move by Cricket Australia to get him back into first-class cricket," the Warriors captain said.

"The West Indies tour isn't too far away and there's no better chance to come back to WA, perform well and confirm to those selectors that he's ready."

"I've got a lot of confidence that over the next couple of weeks for WA he's going to find that form, it's not too far away."

"There's nowhere to hide when you're struggling and you're playing for Australia."

"He'll find it a bit of a relief when he gets up to Brisbane ... He'll probably take a step back and concentrate on himself and what makes him a really good player without those distractions."

Marsh's return to state ranks is also a significant boost for the Warriors, who will go a long way towards securing their spot in their first Shield final since 1998-99 with a win over the undefeated Bulls.

North, who will be playing his 100th first-class match for WA, said his team will be high on confidence after the bulk of the squad played for the Big Bash League runners-up Perth Scorchers.

"We've been playing some good cricket over the past six weeks, even though it's a completely different format," he said.

"This is a good challenge and it will certainly give us a good indication of where we're at."

WA are second on the Shield table and 10 points behind the Bulls with four matches left.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

Latest Headlines

Pune players plead innocence
Pune players plead innocence
05/21/2012 06:43:06 PM
IPL finds itself embroiled in yet another controversy after reports suggest Pune Warriors Rahul Sharma and Wayne Parnell were detained after the ...
 
 
Dravid undecided on IPL future
Dravid undecided on IPL future
05/21/2012 06:34:48 PM
Rahul Dravid on Sunday said he remains undecided on his future with the Rajasthan Royals and would look to make a decision after a break.
 
 
Pattinson nears full fitness
Pattinson nears full fitness
05/21/2012 07:40:31 AM
James Pattinson has overcome a back injury and is looking forward to Australia's tour of England next month.
 
 
Lord's Test on a knife-edge
05/20/2012 07:50:14 PM
 
Deccan deny RCB, Chennai qualify
05/20/2012 06:39:42 PM
 
Gilly: I have played my last IPL game
05/20/2012 06:38:45 PM
 
Sachin, Smith slam Rajasthan
05/20/2012 06:34:33 PM
 
Kolkata claim second place
05/19/2012 08:19:29 PM
 
Warner ends Punjab hopes
05/19/2012 08:17:36 PM
 
Chanderpaul holds England up
05/19/2012 08:04:32 PM
 
 
 

Your Say

Galleries

Photos of the Week
28/11/2011 3:33:38 PM
The golf season is getting into full swing; A League is continuing plus heaps more. So take a break from work and look thought the photo gallery of the week’s best sporting action.