Out of form North pleads Test case

Marcus North wants the national selectors to remember what he has done with the Test team over all 13 matches when they pick the squad for New Zealand this week. North is under pressure to hold his spot following a poor series against Pakistan and an unconvincing end to the domestic season with Western Australia.

Steven Smith and Phillip Hughes have been in excellent form for New South Wales and will come into contention for batting places in the squad for the two Tests in Wellington and Hamilton later this month. North managed only 41 runs in four innings against Pakistan and has scores of 29, 4, 23, 15, 20 and 3 since then in the Sheffield Shield.

"I hope the selectors look at my Test career and the form I showed in South Africa and England, and against the West Indies," he told AAP. "I've played 13 Test matches and had three bad ones in a row, so hopefully the selectors can look at the bigger picture.

"There are a lot of good players across the country playing well, but I still feel that I'm the man for the job at No. 6." North scored three centuries in his first six Tests but his best contribution in six home games during the summer was 79 against West Indies at the Gabba.