Marcus North has quit as Western Australia cricket captain after returning from the Perth Scorchers’ troubled Champions League T20 campaign.
But North, who has captained WA for the past six seasons, said his resignation was to do with his form rather than ill-disciplined behaviour by some players during the Champions League in South Africa.
Mike Hussey will take over the captaincy for the team’s upcoming Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG but a full-time replacement will be named at a later date.
“I have thought long and hard about this decision but I feel now is the right time for Western Australian cricket to have a fresh voice and a new leader to take the Warriors and Scorchers forward,” North said in a statement.
“My form in the past two and a half years since playing Test cricket has not been to the high standard I place on myself.
“I want to enjoy my cricket without the pressure of captaincy and strive to be the best cricketer that I can be both personally and for the team.
“I have always said that a captain should be the player who is picked first and someone who has no concern about their place in the side.
“I have been averaging 10 below my career first class average for the past two seasons and the Warriors do not need a skipper who is struggling for form and finding it hard to justify their place in the side.
“This is my sixth year as state captain and I have given it a really good shot, but the reality is we have played in only two T20 finals in that time so I have not enjoyed the success everyone associated with WA cricket would have hoped for.”
North, WACA Chairman David Williams and chief executive Christina Matthews were to front a media conference in Perth later on Monday and expected to reveal any punishments for misbehaviour by the Scorchers in South Africa.
Brothers Shaun and Mitch Marsh faced nervous waits over their involvement in a boozy night while celebrating Mitch’s 21st birthday in Cape Town, while other players are also set to come under the spotlight.
Mitch’s antics have already cost him a spot in the Australia A side set to face South Africa in Sydney this week.