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Martyn: why I almost quit the game

Source: The Age - November 10, 2006

Damien Martyn considered quitting cricket after his post-Ashes Test axing but, after one of the more remarkable comebacks in modern times, is poised to lead Australia's quest for revenge against England this summer.

No member of the Australian team has more to prove this summer than Martyn. The scapegoat of last year's Ashes campaign, despite entering the series as Australia's leading batsman over the prior 18 months, the West Australian veteran will again confront the bowling attack that troubled him with reverse swing and prompted selectors to cut him adrift.

Immediately after his demotion, Martyn pondered retirement and, even after deciding to remain in state cricket, rated himself no chance of returning to the Test side. At 34, and with 178 runs at 19.77 to his name in his last Test series against the English, Martyn shifted his focus to mentoring Western Australia's younger batsmen.

How times have changed. In a remarkable resurgence, Martyn enters the Test summer a near certainty to retain the No.4 position he wrested back on the tour of South Africa. And in the past month, the elegant right-hander appears to have discovered his imperious touch of old, passing 70 twice at the Champions Trophy - including an innings of 78 against an English attack that included Steve Harmison and Sajid Mahmood - and striking an unbeaten 47 in the final to guide Australia to victory.

The last innings in Mumbai was not without controversy, with Martyn criticised for pushing the president of the Indian cricket board on the presentation podium. Then, on returning home, Martyn made further headlines by claiming he had lost respect for Dennis Lillee, who had criticised Australia's ageing side.

But, at the very least, Martyn can take solace from the fact he is still capable of capturing the public's attention. After receiving a phone call from then-chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns late last year, scribes across the country were hastily penning his international obituary.

"It was pretty obvious what was going on," Martyn recalls. "But it wasn't until we had a mid-year review that I actually had a chance to speak to him. I asked him if I was completely out of the running to get back in the Test side, which I figured I was. He said there was light at the end of the tunnel, but I was still sceptical. I was 34 and out of a Test side that doesn't lose much and has openings very rarely. It was pretty hard to see a way for me to get back in.

"I spoke to him because I really wanted to know what was ahead for me and for my family. It's good to know what you can plan for. There was a day or two when it crossed my mind whether I should keep playing at all, and just thinking what the future held. But those went away, and even though I didn't think I would play Test cricket for Australia again, I was pretty happy to keep playing for WA and with the Australian one-day side."

Looking back over the past year, Martyn can scarcely believe what has transpired. In a move equally as surprising as his Test axing, he was recalled for Australia's tour of South Africa at the expense of Brad Hodge, who had scored a double century and averaged almost 60 in five Tests as Australia's No.4.

Martyn then scored a superb century in difficult conditions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg to seal a tense victory for the Australians. The selectors had found their No.4 for the Ashes. Again.

"I would still like to know that I have been picked first," he said. "I don't take these things for granted. I am trying not to get stressed out. I'm actually really looking forward to the summer. I think all the guys have got England pretty sussed. We have had a good look at their bowlers and we know what they do. The butterflies won't start until we're in Brisbane.

"It's a cut-throat business. I know that. I have had the good, when you're scoring runs and winning awards. And I have had the bad, not scoring runs and getting dropped. So my ultimate goal is to score runs, have fun, and be there in Sydney.

"There's no bitterness from me. If I was younger there probably would have been, where you're blaming a million other people and being shitty with life. The last series was a kick in the butt. The edge is back. I want to be really switched on for this series."

With the top five batting positions all but sealed, the only contentious positions in the Australian team appear to be that of the No.6 batsman and third pace bowler for the first Test. Allan Border, barely a month removed from sitting on the selection panel, yesterday called for the Queensland duo of Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson to fill those roles ahead of NSW pair Michael Clarke and Stuart Clark.

"I've been very impressed with Mitch in recent times," Border said. "I think he's come out of the pack. He's got plenty of pace, swings the ball, and I just get the feeling that the side needs an injection of youth.

"Even though [Clark] has been in fantastic form, he, to me, is so similar to Glenn McGrath. I would just go with something different."

- ALEX BROWN