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Damien has point to prove on return to region

Source: The Evening Chronicle - June 23, 2005

Australia's middle order batsman Damien Martyn is back in the North East today having spent a couple of seasons playing club cricket in the region as a teenager.

Martyn joined the now-defunct North Durham as a prodigious 17-year- old and then linked up with derby rivals Gateshead Fell for a season as professional.

The 33-year-old is expected to be in an under-pressure Australia side at the Riverside as they look to avoid a fourth consecutive limited overs defeat against the old enemy England.

Ricky Ponting's under-achievers will also include current Durham captain Mike Hussey, and the Riversiders' former overseas star Simon Katich could also feature.

But it was a fresh-faced Martyn who first cut his teeth in this country on Tyneside 14 years ago and Gateshead Fell chairman Tom O'Connor knew then the teenager from Australia's Northern Territory was a bit special.

O'Connor said: "He didn't play the full season because he had to leave early to captain the Australia Under-19 side, but even as a young kid he made a big impression.

"He was a major talent and the best young player I've ever seen with an attitude that was spot on.

"He had a good season with us and also bowled a bit of seam up, and it certainly hasn't surprised me what he's gone on to achieve in the game."

Martyn has had a mixed start to the current tour, scoring 44 in the four-wicket defeat at Somerset and 77 in last weekend's humiliating five-wicket defeat against rank outsiders Bangladesh.

In the first match against England this month the stylish right-hander lasted just four balls in making only four.

His dismissal saw the shell-shocked Aussies slump to an incredible 31-7 and a 100-run hammering in the historic Twenty20 clash between the two countries.

Then in Sunday's three-wicket NatWest Series defeat, Martyn fared little better.

The number four bat lasted just two balls against a rampant Steve Harmison and will be looking to finally make an impact on his return to the North East.

And with a Test average of 53 - only 53 more runs are needed to reach 4,000 Test runs - and a one-day average of 41, Martyn remains a threat to England this summer.

"Damien is one of Australia's best batsmen," added O'Connor, who will be in the 17,000 sell-out crowd at Chester-le-Street, "and I'd certainly back him to come good - but hopefully not at England's expense today."