Western Australia captian Marcus North praised the Australian selectors for showing faith in him after he retained his spot in the Australian Test squad on Wednesday, but as the stats continue to stack up against him the tour of New Zealand may be his last chance in the baggy green.
After a lean summer at home with the national team, North hasn't done himself any favours with his return to Australian domestic cricket yielding only 108 runs from seven innings at the dismal average of 14.7.
But North, who fell for just eight runs in the Warriors' first innings at the Gabba, is glad that selectors have rewarded previous results at the highest level.
"I was hoping the selectors would take into consideration my whole test career," he said.
"The series against Pakistan wasn't great, it was a lean series for myself and I've gone back to WA and made a few starts but not got the score I've been after."
"It's nice that they've shown the faith. It'd be a shame for it to end after 13 test matches over the last year, where I've felt that I've performed in some big series."
Although North points to a 13-Test career with three centuries as a reason for his continued place in the side, the numbers are once-more against him.
In 21 innings for Australia, North has scored 10 or less a whopping 11 times, and his average of 36.7 is far below par when the three batsmen above him (Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke) all average more than 50.
While North is no doubt feeling the pressure, he may take solace in the lack of outstanding middle-order contenders for his spot.
With Michael Clarke still in doubt for the tour and neither Phil Hughes or Steve Smith - the other two batters in the Australian squad, - demanding middle-order selection, North may have time in hand to manufacture a form reversal.
And with an Ashes series on the horizon, North's impressive showing against the English in 2009, which included two centuries and a score of 96, ensures Australian selectors will be reluctant to discard a proven performer.
Barring an unlikely exclusion from the final XI, North will doing all he can to contribute to Australia's success and nail down his spot in the side.
"If I continue to hold my place, I'll be doing everything I can to score runs and contribute to winning a match for Australia," he said.
"Every test match you've got to perform, my attitude hasn't changed and won't change from the first test I played in Jo'burg to the first test in New Zealand."