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Martyn looks ahead of Super Series

Source: The Age - October 2, 2005

Australian batsmen Damien Martyn hopes to have a clearer picture of his future in international cricket after this week's Super Series one-dayers.

Martyn was a casualty of the Ashes series loss, dumped from the Test squad for the one-off match later this month at the SCG against the World XI.

But he retained his one-day position for the three Super Series games this Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.

When asked about whether he now aimed for the 2007 one-day World Cup, Martyn said he was unsure of the selectors' thoughts.

"It depends - now, this week, you see the selectors and it depends on what they're thinking," he said.

"If that's what they want, that will become my focus ... it would be great to be there.

"If not, then it's moving on and playing for WA."

The 33-year-old's patchy Ashes form was not helped by two lbw decisions where he was given out, even though he clearly edged the ball onto his pads.

Martyn said he was "disappointed" when told last month he was left out of the Test squad, but added there was no point dwelling on it.

He accepts a lot of cards would need to fall his way for a Test recall.

"If that's my last Test, I've had a great time and played 60-odd Tests - there was a stage in '98 when I only had seven games against my name," he said.

"Looking forward to this week, it's three games again and who knows what happens after them?

"The (Test) side they've picked, they'll go with it and they'll give guys a go, that's the way it is.

"For me, there's always a chance I will play again, but I think it's a slim one, probably."

His focus now is to play well this summer for Western Australia.

Martyn wants to help his state team succeed, rather than focus on impressing the national selectors with a weight of runs.

He has already been through a media run-in with selector Merv Hughes since his Test axing, with Martyn not happy that Hughes called on the dropped players to prove themselves again at state level.

Paceman Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz were dropped from the two squads, while opener Matthew Hayden lost his one-day berth.

Martyn admitted it hurt when long-term members of the national team were dropped.

"It's been like a family, the last seven or eight years of this side - we're away so much together, we live together, you see more of these guys than your Mum and Dad, almost," he said.

"When you lose someone ... it's disappointing, it's a sad moment."