Marcus North - International Career

International Career

On 5 February 2009, North was called up to the Australia squad to face South Africa during Australia's tour of South Africa. North displayed a strong all-round performance in the only tour match against the Board President's XI where he scored two unbeaten half-centuries and claimed career-best bowling figures of 6/69 off 11 overs. North was selected to make his Test debut against South Africa in the First Test at the New Wanderers Stadium at Johannesburg, becoming the 409th Australian to earn a Test cap. He made his debut alongside fellow debutants Phillip Hughes and Ben Hilfenhaus. North scored 117 runs in his first Test innings, becoming the first West Australian and the eighteenth Australian to score a century in his first Test, and the first Australian to do so against South Africa. In this match, North also claimed his first Test wicket, dismissing South African tailender Paul Harris.

On 11 July 2009, during the First Ashes Test of 2009, at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, North scored his second Test century in his third Test match, 125 not out, sharing in a 200 run partnership with Brad Haddin, who also scored his second Test century in this innings. In the second innings of the Third Test, North made 96 in a 185 run partnership with Michael Clarke to help Australia secure a draw. He scored 110 in the fourth Ashes Test at Headingley, hitting a six to bring up his century.

During the First Test against Pakistan at Lords in July 2010, North took a Test-best haul of 6-55 in Pakistan's second innings, doubling his career test wickets tally in the process

North was dropped from the Australian test team on 10 December 2010 due to poor form during the 2010–11 Ashes series against England.