Who is Marcus North?

[John B]

WE have signed him for next season

[Dark Sotonic Mills]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6943.html

[Berkshire Saint]

Not a bad player to be fair. I wish Hampshire would actually say how long he's playing with us for though...

[Berkshire Saint]

Edit: Just seen on the official website that he's with us until June.

[Weston Saint]

Was not that impressed when he played for Durham a few years ago but he seems to have improved so let's hope he can do a job for us.

Tahir was always a doubt for us early season and bearing in mind he and most other spinners prefer the later season hard wickets he will not likely be missed. Also we have a good bowling line up for the early season seam and swing so to strengthen the batting during that period is a good move.

[saint1977]

Was not that impressed when he played for Durham a few years ago but he seems to have improved so let's hope he can do a job for us.

Tahir was always a doubt for us early season and bearing in mind he and most other spinners prefer the later season hard wickets he will not likely be missed. Also we have a good bowling line up for the early season seam and swing so to strengthen the batting during that period is a good move.

I'd go with that, Dimi and co's medium pacers will be better in April and May and possibly June when the ball moves around. Then when hopefully the wickets harden and if we get a decent summer they are dry, Tahar will be running through county line-ups like a hot knife through butter. Tomlinson's footmarks won't do Tahar any harm either! If Tremlett can stay fit - a big if - you could have Tremlett getting steepling bounce at 86-87mph at one end with the pitch crumbling on day 4 and Tahar at the other. I wouldn't fancy it as an opposition batsman.

North doesn't seem to be in the Aussie selector's thoughts for Ashes selection at the moment but it does give him motivation to put lots of runs on the board and force his way into contention.

[Berkshire Saint]

Well we won't have Dimi because he'll be at the IPL for the start of the season!

Guess we'll start something like this:

Carberry
Adams
Crawley
North
Lumb
Ervine
Pothas (captain)
Dawson
Cork
Tremlett
Tomlinson

Benham could play instead of Adams so North, Crawley or Ervine (he did it in 2005) could open. Could play an extra seamer (Balcombe probably) instead of one of the batsman as well.

[Weston Saint]

North opened for Durham when he played for them in 2004 season

Scored 29 & 4 at the rosebowl in first game of the season. We won

At Durham later in the season against us he batted at No 4 and scored 0 & 23no. Drawn match

Never bowled in either match

[saint1977]

Well we won't have Dimi because he'll be at the IPL for the start of the season!

Guess we'll start something like this:

Carberry
Adams
Crawley
North
Lumb
Ervine
Pothas (captain)
Dawson
Cork
Tremlett
Tomlinson

Benham could play instead of Adams so North, Crawley or Ervine (he did it in 2005) could open. Could play an extra seamer (Balcombe probably) instead of one of the batsman as well.

Forgot about Dimi and the IPL but Cork is a similar sort of pace and bowler in his old age - 70mph and wicket-to-wicket with the keeper standing up. Griffiths looked handy, good pace, if a bit raw last year, haven't seen much of Balcombe yet. Any good? That side bats deep with Cork at 9.

[Weston Saint]

Balcombe is a good prospect, strong and fast and can bat at No 9.

[georgeismyname]

I would start the season (when Dimi is back) with:
Carberry,
North,
Lumb,
Benham,
Ervine,
Dawson,
Pothas,
Mascarenhas,
Cork,
Tremlett,
Tomlinson

with Adams, Balcombe, Crawley, Riazuddin ready to step in

After North has gone and Tahir is back I would have:

Carberry,
North,
Lumb,
Benham,
Ervine,
Dawson,
Pothas,
Mascarenhas,
Cork,
Tomlinson,
Tahir

with Tremlett, Riazuddin, Adams, Crawley, Balcombe in reserve.

[Evil Monkey]

After North has gone and Tahir is back I would have:

Carberry,
North,
Lumb,
Benham,
Ervine,
Dawson,
Pothas,
Mascarenhas,
Cork,
Tomlinson,
Tahir

with Tremlett, Riazuddin, Adams, Crawley, Balcombe in reserve.

After North has gone you'd have him opening the batting?

[georgeismyname]

After North has gone you'd have him opening the batting?

Whoops, my mistake.

My team now I have realised my mistake would have Adams in for North

[The Saturday Boy]

Even with the addition of North, I still think we could do with another batsman.
Although we have capable batsmen in the mid/lower order with the likes of Pothas, Dawson, Dimi and Cork, I just don't think batsmen number 3, 4, 5 will score enough runs on a consistent basis.

[The Saturday Boy]

Typical! North has been named in the Aussie Test squad to tour South Africa.

The series finishes on March 23rd so hopefully he will be around for Hants at the start of the season but if he gets a chance and impresses than an Ashes call up isn't out of the question -

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausvrsa2008_09/content/story/389083.html