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Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /home/damienm/public_html/articles/main.php on line 59 Warning: include(http://www.damienmartyn.net/navbar.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/damienm/public_html/articles/main.php on line 59 Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.damienmartyn.net/navbar.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/damienm/public_html/articles/main.php on line 59 Martyn's missionSource: The Advertiser - January 11, 2006Damien Martyn claims he has emerged refreshed from his Ashes torture chamber and insists he has not given up on reclaiming his Test spot. But the 61-Test veteran, who came in from the cold to sizzle with a dashing 96 against South Africa in Monday's Twenty20 extravaganza, says he has no regrets if he has played his last Test. "You never give up on it and I'm not going to sit here and say I never want to play again," Martyn said. "A lot of things would have to happen for me to get back in . . . I don't mull over it and I don't worry about it. I've got no regrets if that's the last Test match I've played." Martyn, rated the No. 5 player by Australia's selectors on their 25-man contract list just before the squad left for England, privately believes he has been the victim of rough justice. Publicly, he says he holds no grudges against the selectors who dumped him after an Ashes campaign in which he scored just 178 Test runs at 19. After enduring plenty of sleepless nights after losing his Test spot, the 34-year-old says he tried to harness his energy into enjoying his new, less high-profile life. "It's been less stressful. I've spent Christmas at home for the first time in four or five years," Martyn said. "There's always a positive to come from the negative and that's how I've looked at it." Without Martyn, Australia's middle-order looked wobbly until Brad Hodge produced the goods and Andrew Symonds finally hit paydirt in the recent series against South Africa. On the face of it, there looks no hope of Martyn reclaiming his Test spot for next month's tour of South Africa or further down the track. His best chance could be through his one-day form which could propel him into calculations. Martyn is quick to remind people that he hasn't been dropped from Australia's one-day side. He is looking forward with enthusiasm to the VB series, starting this week, and has tried to not look ahead much further than that. - BEN DORRIES | ||||||
