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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 has to get back in swingSource: The Australian - September 7, 2005THE time has come for Damien Martyn to stand up and rescue Australia's Ashes campaign. Statistics may not show it but Martyn has the game to counter England and their reverse swing. With those beautiful soft wrists, he plays later than any other Australia batsman and is a real nose over the ball man. He has a game which could have been honed on the seaming northern decks of Lancashire or Yorkshire because he waits for the ball to do what it does then reacts. But it just hasn't worked for him this tour. With 168 runs at 21, Martyn must be shattered by his returns. The finger must not be embedded too far in his chest in terms of dishing out blame because most of the top order have failed with him. But it's hurt Australia deeply that nothing has run for him. He still has time to be forgiven for his sins by shining in the last Test which underlines the beauty of this fabulous series. Everyone has a chance of becoming an instant immortal tomorrow no matter what their previous results. No cause is lost. It's quadruple bonus points for everyone in the last Test. Martyn has had bad luck this tour but he has contributed to it by little pieces of bad management. England has had some interesting plans for Martyn. They accept he scores many of his runs by deflections through gully so they have posted two gullies and put in a deep point to minimise the damage. Also, they have tried to force him back. It seems as if they figure his footwork is not great - and it's not - they can set him up for lbw decisions by driving him back with short balls. Martyn's form slump has hurt Australia because he had been playing so well over the past year. He should have been Australia's Allan Border Medallist last summer. Australia considered him a banker here. He just hasn't fired but a bouncy last Test pitch may remind him of his home deck at the WACA. That may be just the vehicle he needs. - ROBERT CRADDOCK | ||||||
