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Martyn tempts fate, partner trusts his luck

Source: smh.com.au - January 21, 2006

As Phil Jaques and Damien Martyn walked to the crease under the closed roof at Telstra Dome, they could hardly have anticipated the different fates that awaited them. Martyn, the seasoned campaigner, must have been hoping for a repetition of the panache produced in the comedy cricket match played in Brisbane. Jaques, the newcomer, must have been hoping for a convincing start to his 50-over career.

In the event, the sturdy left-hander had much the better of things. Jaques produced exactly the sort of innings needed to secure further opportunities. He looked the part, contributed substantially and moved along at the required pace. Meanwhile, Martyn threw his bat with the abandon more often seen on the decks of ocean liners as the band strikes up and the boat starts to sink.

Jaques is a comfortable figure at the crease. Some batsmen wrestle with themselves in an attempt to subdue demons. Some thrash around like caught fish. Others concentrate grimly, like a judge at a dog show. Jaques strikes a balance between the forces that have affected batsmen since the game began. He bats in a practical way, with his emotions under control and his mind clear. He is an old-fashioned opener, a paid-up member of a hardy breed that goes out at dawn and dusk, marching towards the guns, ready to take the worst any opponent has to offer.

Jaques has a tried and trusted game and an ability to concentrate for long periods with undue effort. Not that he always finds the bowling easy, but batting seems to be embedded in his character. He can step off a plane, join his grade club, put on his pads, bat out of position and still score a hundred. And then repeat the feat next day. He can score centuries for states and counties, in 20- and 50-over cricket and, given the chance, in Test matches, too. He just scores runs.

Although he has a very different temperament and technique, Jaques has much in common with Australia's other recent discovery, Michael Hussey. Both men studied batting at the coalface, earning their crusts as overseas players in county cricket, playing almost every day, surviving the high expectations, dealing with changing pitches and different types of matches and always finding a way, always putting runs on the board. As with Hussey, the thousands of notches collected in England, the hundreds taken off respectable attacks, helped build confidence. Having learnt the finer points of their games as responsible overseas professionals, Hussey and Jaques returned ready to take whatever opportunities came their way.

- PETER ROEBUCK