North sets sights on long Durham innings

Like the first day, the final instalment of the match against Glamorgan was washed out, leaving Durham five points adrift at the foot of the table, despite North's 219 allowing them to pick up maximum batting points.

After 15 championship innings as an opener, North was averaging 26. But the switch to his Western Australia position of No 4 brought immediate results.

"It was a two-way decision," he said. "It has taken me several years at home to find my game batting at four or five.

"When I began the season with Durham as a stand-in for Herschelle Gibbs I thought it would be good experience to open.

"But the ball moves more here and I wasn't really getting to grips with it. The preparation and mental approach to an innings is totally different. When you open you don't have time to relax and assess things by watching others.

"I like to play shots, which might not be suitable against the new ball here. The switch worked well for Gareth Breese as well. He took on the responsibility of opening and gave us a better balance.

"With him going well I knew I could go out and take as long as I wanted to play myself in. I made only four in the half hour I was at the crease before lunch, but I knew it was a good batting pitch and if I got to 30 or 40 it was a good opportunity to kick on and make up for the first half of the season.

"It hasn't been that enjoyable for me with the lack of runs, so it was good to get some faith back in myself."

Once Breese was out shortly after lunch, North really did kick on. His 50s were very evenly-paced once he had played himself in by making four off 26 balls at lunch.

He required a further 55 balls to reach his half-century, then scored his second 50 off 53 balls, his third off 61 and his fourth off 57.

Only Martin Love, with 251 at Lord's two years ago and 273 at home to Hampshire last season, has made bigger first-class scores for Durham, and at the same time as North was making his double hundred another Australian, Phil Jaques, was making one for Yorkshire.

"We always get taught back home that once you get in you have to make the most of it," said North. "When you are 100 not out it's easier to easier to get another 50 or 60 than it was at the start of your innings, so you have to cash in.

"I hadn't spent a lot of time in the middle, so what pleased me most was batting for a long period. It's challenging mentally batting for that length of time.

"The pitches at Taunton and Cardiff are harder than at home, where we have found it difficult to score runs. Our groundsman is having problems with a root break, which is not ideal for him or for us, but it's the same for both sides.

"At home we have to be a lot tougher in our mental approach. We may have been too concerned about what the pitch might do instead of concentrating on playing the ball.

"Hopefully things will change with the new balance in the order and after the way we approached the game at Cardiff. We outplayed the team who are second in the table, which is very frustrating for us. We keep having good days then letting ourselves down. It's something we are aware of and want to rectify.

"It's also good to know there are players in the second team pressing their claims. Kyle Coetzer's debut showed a lot of maturity and character, which helped me at a time when we were looking to post a big total.

"It's never easy on your debut, but he batted beautifully. It sets him up for the rest of the season and makes us happy in the dressing room.

"I definitely want to carry on next season.

"My first impression was that it's a lot of cricket, which is what you get told.

"You don't realise how tough it is until you try it. But I'm enjoying playing for the club. I get well looked after, I get on well with my teammates and I get to see all parts of the country.

"Hopefully I can get enough runs in the rest of the season to earn another contract."

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