Paul Barbieri at the WACA
Marcus North has picked up from where he left off in the recent Ashes series, the Australian batsman and Western Australian skipper leading the Warriors to 4-247 on the first day of the Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland with a sparkling century.
Taking advantage of some non-threatening bowling by the inexperienced Queensland attack, the Warriors started cautiously after being sent into bat at the WACA ground on Tuesday morning.
But after losing openers Wes Robinson (10) and Luke Towers (43), a third-wicket partnership of 119 between the unbeaten North (103) and a disciplined Shaun Marsh (70) saw the Warriors firmly controlling this clash at stumps.
With his Ashes experience behind him, North looked in fine touch plundering a young Bulls attack and bringing up his 50 in 94 balls. He may have taken his time easing through the 90s but completed the century with a relieved single off Ben Cutting in a knock that included 16 boundaries and a six.
His innings was a stark contrast to Marsh, usually the Warriors' pacesetter, who's 70 took 194 balls.
Marsh's disciplined effort, though, was indicative of a Western Australian side that was determined to see its top order post runs, a scenario that happened on too few occasions last season.
To rectify this, coach Tom Moody appears to have instructed his side to steer clear of the bash-and-crash style of past seasons, with his choice of two dour but reliable openers in Robinson and Towers reflecting this.
Robinson may have only notched 10 but looked very solid before being trapped in front by Scott Walter. Towers, meanwhile, was on track for a half-century before falling victim to a fantastic inswinging yorker from Walter that took out middle stump.
Having lost plenty of experience with the retirements of Martin Love, Clint Perren, Andrew Symonds' worries and James Hopes' injury, the young Queensland attack appeared to have few answers as North and Marsh took the Warriors to 2-134 at tea before accelerating the run-rate in the final session.
Bulls skipper Chris Simpson may have handed the ball to Lee Carseldine as a stop-gap measure before taking the new ball, but the veteran worked some magic. Bowling for the first time since his debilitating run with back injuries, Carseldine (1-9) had Marsh in a tangle, the ball taking an inside edge onto the stumps.
Marsh was the first of two wickets to fall before stumps as Queensland claimed Adam Voges cheaply, the batsman caught behind off Ben Cutting's (1-59) bowling.
But the late wickets still couldn't paper over the cracks in Queensland's attack. Walter bowled well for his 2-50 and the ball that took out Towers was a ripper but the majority of the Bulls bowlers lacked fire and pace.
Of more concern, Queensland is also a bowler short as Grant Sullivan was forced from the field midway through the second session with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Western Australia first innings
Robinson lbw b Walter 10
Towers b Walter 43
Marsh b Carseldine 70
North not out 103
Voges c Hartley b Cutting 8
Magoffin not out 5
Extras: 8 (1b, 7lb)
Total: 247 (4 wickets; 96 overs)
FoW: 1-23, 2-85, 3-204, 4-241
Bowling:
Cutting 27 - 8 - 59 - 1
Walter 23 - 8 - 50 - 2
Sullivan 13 - 4 - 41 - 0
Simpson 15 - 4 - 50 - 0
Laughlin 16 - 6 - 30 - 0
Carseldine 2 - 0 - 9 - 1