DR Martyn of Australia

Full Name:

Damien Richard Martyn

DoB:

Thursday, October 21, 1971

Birthplace:

Darwin, NT

Teams:

WA

Test Debut:

v West Indies at Brisbane ('Gabba'), 1992

ODI Debut:

v West Indies at Sydney, 1992

Bats:

RH

Bowls:

RAM

Player Record:

link to stats

Damien Martyn is the most elegant stylist in the Australian side and he's also in the form of his life.

Martyn's Test average was boosted above 50 when he made five hundreds and a 97 in 12 Test innings prior to the Ashes series, each one a joy for the cricketing purist. He strokes the ball around gracefully, elbow high, timing impeccable, a classical batsman despite his minimalist foot movement.

At 33, Martyn is a mainstay of the Australian side but it was not always the case. When he appeared on the scene as a brash 21-year-old, he batted with a flamboyance that smacked just a little too much of carelessness for the hard-nosed Australian selectors.

During the 1993 tour to England an altercation in a Brighton nightclub left the young wild man with a black eye. More serious from a professionally standpoint was the false shot in 1994 against South Africa which cost Australia a Test match by five runs and Martyn his place in the side.

During a long lay off he became so disillusioned with not having the opportunity to fulfil a precocious talent that he nearly gave cricket up to join a travel business.

When the call came six years after he had been dropped, he returned a quieter personality, and a more mature player, and has not looked back. He has a fine record in England, averaging 76.4 on the last tour here, and is definitely a danger man from the home side's point of view.

Martyn's become a very important player in that he bats at a different tempo to the aggressive players, but with something of the grace of Mark Waugh.

As a youngster he was cocky and didn't last long in the Test side. But he came back after a long lay off a much quieter, more mature guy who goes about his job without rocking the boat.

He keeps churning the runs out and has become a very complete player. Critics said he couldn't play spin but he proved them wrong by getting a lot of runs in Sri Lanka and India.

Despite minimal footwork he loves batting in England. In 2001 he scored heaps of runs and, in 1993, though he didn't play a Test, he made 1,000 runs in the county games.

He's very strong though point and backward point but the area is also a potential weakness because he hits in the air, and in the ODIs he was caught at third man twice off Steve Harmison. His form is a bit of a worry and he needs an early score.