Australia draws first SA Tour match
Marcus North made a strong case for inclusion in the Australian team for the first Test in Johannesburg, scoring two half-centuries and claiming career-best first-class bowling figures of 6-69 against the South African Board President's XI on Sunday.
The match ended in a draw when the captains agreed to halt play half-an-hour early on the final day.
Having declared at the start of play on the overnight score of 360-4, 43 runs in arrears, the Australians did well to dismiss the President's XI for 182 in their second innings. The touring team had then reached 171-4 - although two of the "dismissals" were retirements - by the time the action came to an end.
On a good batting pitch, off-spinner North's six wickets provided food for thought for the selectors, especially when contrasted with leg-spinner Bryce McGain's 2-126 in the President's XI's first innings.
Given that pace is generally king at the Wanderers, and that spinners may not get too many overs there in the first Test beginning Thursday, including McGain in the starting lineup might not ultimately be seen as a necessity.
Unfortunately for the 36-year-old leg-spinner, a bout of gastroenteritis kept him and paceman Peter Siddle off the field Sunday.
North was touted to be competing for the No.6 batting spot in the Test team with Andrew McDonald, and on the statistics at least he won that battle. North scored 52 not out and 50 not out, while McDonald contributed 23 and 29 not out, and claimed only one wicket in the match.
If North was to be selected as a spinning all-rounder for the first Test, the selectors could opt for four seamers, instead of three and spinner McGain.
North's spinning ability, coupled with 3-29 from seamer Doug Bollinger, saw the President's XI bowled out in just 41.1 overs. North started by bowling opposition captain Alviro Petersen through the gate for 36, and then having Gulam Bodi attempt a drive only to be caught by keeper Brad Haddin for 29. Top-scorer Heino Kuhn, who followed his 99 in the first innings with 47 in the second was also a North victim, being caught at deep midwicket.
In the Australian second innings Phillip Hughes and North opened and crafted a century partnership before both retired on reaching their half-centuries.