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Martyn worth punt at No.3: Buchanan

Source: The Age - March 2, 2006

Coach John Buchanan has backed Damien Martyn to fill Ricky Ponting's shoes in the vital No.3 batting spot in Friday's one-day international against South Africa in Cape Town.

Skipper Ponting (stomach muscle) and all-rounder Andrew Symonds (hip muscle) didn't train and are in doubt for Friday and also Sunday's third game at Port Elizabeth.

"Damien is a very skilful player," Buchanan said. "He's played a lot of cricket at three in Test cricket or early in his career and certainly for Western Australia.

"So I think he's got the ability to handle that position."

Ponting missed last week's opening game of the five-game series at Centurion. Martyn was promoted from No.4 to first-drop, falling lbw to Shaun Pollock for one in a rain-interrupted match which the Proteas won by six wickets.

The arrival in Cape Town of NSW opener Phil Jaques has raised the possibility of reorganising the batting line-up, allowing Martyn to go back to No.4 with in-form pair Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey at No.5 and No.6.

But Buchanan said Jaques was regarded by selectors as an opener only, raising doubt over whether there was room for the 26-year-old in the current line-up ahead of regular openers Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich.

"At the moment we've got 12 fit players here and Phil arriving makes that 13," Buchanan said.

"A selector (Andrew Hilditch) arrives very soon so I guess they'll make some call on that. Phil has been brought over here to strengthen the top order, if selected.

"I expect the selectors would view him very much as a top-order player, particularly an opening batsman."

Martyn, 34, lost his Test place after last year's Ashes series but is still a key contributor at one-day international level. He has made 4,974 runs at 40.77 in 196 one-day internationals, and hit 283 runs at an average of 31.44 in the just-completed tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Batting at No.3 will give Martyn a golden chance to build an innings at his own pace and post a big score.

Australia needs a win this week to keep the series alive and the veteran right-hander is keen to underline his value with the World Cup defence only 13 months away.

In eight innings at No.3 in one-day internationals, Martyn has scored 320 runs at 64.00, compared to 2,763 at 40.63 at No.4.

The touring team's bowling attack also faces a stern test against South Africa's top order led by captain Graeme Smith, who made 119 not out in last week's six-wicket win - a record score for a South African against Australia.

Paceman Stuart Clark is confident of overcoming a bruised rib for Friday's game, with Mitchell Johnson (0-28 from three overs) or Mick Lewis (0-25 from three overs) likely to make way.

Smith launched an attacking raid against the inexperienced pair of Johnson and Lewis but Buchanan said his bowlers had been working on fine-tuning their tactics to nullify Smith.

"Whether we deliver that or not is another matter," Buchanan said.

South African batsman AB De Villiers said the world champions would find it tough to get back into the series.

"They are obviously going to fight back real hard, but we are not going to allow them to get back in the series," he said.

Meanwhile Buchanan defended the fielding skills of Jaques, which were identified as a weakness in his game by national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns when the NSW opener missed selection in the one-day squad earlier this month.

"He's one of the best short-leg fieldsman I've ever seen," Buchanan said.

"So he's not quite the rabbit that everyone makes him out to be.

"But there are issues like a bit of movement around the field and he'll be in different positions.

"So he just needs to be aware of that and be able to cope with those when required."