14 Facts about Damien Martyn - The uncelebrated champion

14 Facts about Damien Martyn – The uncelebrated champion: Damien Martyn was a right-handed middle-order batsman with a ‘classic’ technique, known in particular for his elegant stroke making square of the wicket, on the off-side and through the covers. He was an electric fielder who usually manned the covers regions.

His cricketing career was a bumpy ride for him and can be divided into two parts. In the first part, he was young, brash and followed his instincts which misfired for him badly. In the second part he was quiet and took mindful decisions which really paid him off career wise. His place remained intact in the side. Except few occasions, he performed extremely well throughout his career and established himself as a very valuable player for Australia.

Damien Martyn is considered one of the finest Australian batsmen in the first decade of the 21st century.

1. Birth:

Damien Richard Martyn was born on 21^st October 1971 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

2. Early life:

At the age of three, Martyn moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia and was educated at Girrawheen Senior High School.

3. Start of cricketing career:

He was selected for the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide in 1990.

4. International debut:

Damien Martyn made his Test debut at the age of 21 versus West Indies at Brisbane Cricket Ground, Gabba on November 27, 1992. He was selected as a surprise replacement for Dean Jones. He made his ODI debut against the same opposition later on 8th December 1992. He was called as ‘Marto’ by his Australian team mates.

5. Criticism:

Damien Martyn was a brash batsman early in his career. Australia were chasing a small target of 117 against South Africa at Sydney in 1993/94, Martyn attempted an airborne cover-drive off Allan Donald and got out when they required just 7 runs to win. Australia lost the Test. Martyn was heavily crictisized for his irresponsble act and was axed from the Australian Test side. Later, it was only after 7 years that he could again make an appearance for Australia.

6. Exile and return to domestic circuit:

Martyn could not play ODI cricket again until 1997 and Tests until 2000. He returned to the domestic arena and was appointed as captain of Western Australia in the 1994/95 season at the age of 23, the youngest player to have been given the honour.

7. Comeback man:

He re-appeared at the start of the millennium when he replaced an injured Ricky Ponting on the tour to New Zealand in early 2000.

8. Wisden Cricketer of the Year:

He was chosen as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year as a result of his performances in the Ashes in the summer of 2001.

9. Memorable performance:

Damien Martyn was the Man of the Series in India when Australia claimed their first series victory on Indian soil in over 30 years. He made two centuries and narrowly missed out on becoming the first Australian batsman since Don Bradman to make three centuries in three innings when he was dismissed for 97 in the second innings of the second Test.

10. Accolades:

Martyn was presented with the McGillivray Medal in 2005 as the ABC’s Test cricketer of the year. He was also adjudged Australia’s Test Player of the Year in 2005 and was awarded the Allan Border Medal.

11. Sudden retirement:

The former Australia batsman, retired amid the Ashes 2006-07. He was expected to be in the squad for the third Test at his home ground WACA but shocked everyone with his sudden retirement decision.

12. Career:

Martyn played 67 Tests, 208 ODIs and 4 T20Is for Australia. In Tests he scored 4,406 runs at an average of 46.37, hitting 13 tons and 23 half-centuries. He scored 5,346 runs in 208 ODIs, averaging 40.80, and smashed 7 centuries and as many as 37 half-centuries.

13. Short T20 return:

In February 2008 he surprised everyone by announcing he had joined the unofficial Indian Cricket League. But, the ICL soon became defunct. Comeback-kid Martyn had another unexpected return. He signed for Shane Warne’s IPL side Rajasthan Royals for US$100,000 in January 2010.

14. Life post-retirement:

Damien Martyn has had a quiet life post retirement. He took up commentary and also did a Youtube series with former team mate Stuart MacGill.