Damien Martyn – An Elegant Artist

Amid the explosive names in legendry Australian team, Damien Martyn was like a calm and soothing experience, a painter busy using the cricket field as his own sketch, driving the covers, glancing down the hip and flicking through those magical wrists. Play till Stumps takes a look through the career of a gentle giant of Australia’s dream team

 

Damien Martyn was a breathe of fresh air amid array of stroke makers 

On a lazy October morning, Adam Gilchrist walked into Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Ground on the cusp of a history. Australia who had been flaying with India throughout the tour, were in dominating position, in the Test. Gilchrist joined the man who had been the player of the series for Australia, Damien Martyn. Martyn who have helped Australia to save Chennai Test, had made a fantastic hundred in the first inning and was on verge of a magnificent double.

Just few minutes before the lunch break, Martyn was out for 97 missing out a golden opportunity for rare double but it was a day when life came in full circle for the gifted batsman who was once blamed for the loss that his country suffered almost a decade ago.

Conquering the Final Frontier- A Brilliant Hundred at Nagpur got him Man of the Match 

The five run loss from the hand of South Africa at Sydney in 1994 abruptly halted a promising career. Media and fans blamed him for playing an atrocious shot while the team was on verge of a thrilling win. Martyn who was only 22 then had to endure a tough period, he was forgotten for next six years by Australian national selectors.

During this period (1994-2000), Martyn underwent a remarkable change. From a brash, outspoken player, he slowly and steadily turned himself in a very silent and mature individual. West Australia made the most of Martyn’s absence from national team, they appointed him captain of Western Australia’s team in summer of 1994, Martyn was only 23 then.  Martyn had a moderate success in next five seasons at the first-class level where his average in every season hovered around 36-42, which was not good enough to get a recall in a strong Australian batting line up.

Martyn's hand eye coordination were briiliant

The year 1999-2000 proved breakthrough one for Martyn he scored 534 runs at 59.33 and was immediately called for tour to New Zealand, this was the start of Martyn’s second phase of career and an endeavour to fulfil the promise he once augmented.

Martyn returned as a much accomplished individual and a complete cricketer, it was clearly evident from his two high class hundreds in 2001’s Ashes in England. The series confirmed his status as first choice no.5/6 for Australia’s middle order. Later that Australia played Six Tests against South Africa at home and away. Martyn was at his best, scoring three hundred in 10 innings. The hundred at Johannesburg made against a fiery South African attack on a quick deck stamped Martyn’s authority.

                                  The Most Glorious moment in the sun - Series win in India in 2004

Martyn belonged to one of those batsmen who are successful in all forms. His prowess in limited over cricket was no less than longer version of the game. His 88* in finals of the 2003 World Cup could be term as his finest moment in fifty over game. Martyn was one of the exceptions in power hitting Australian battling line up that had Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Andrew Symonds, and Ricky Ponting.  His controlled shot making was one of the reasons for his phenomenal success in the subcontinent. Sublime in his shot-making and using his wrists like an artist, Martyn made batting look easy like no one else during his era and that includes greats like Tendulkar, Lara, Kallis and Ponting.

The best phase of Martyn’s batting came between November 2003 to July 2005, a period during which he rose to being one of the best in the world. It all started with TVS Cup tri series in India during which his patience batting (250 at 50) helped Australia clinch an important title. However, it was his exploits on Australia’s tour to Sri Lanka which showed how much Australia missed out by not giving him chance earlier. In early 2004 Australia won 3-0 in Sri Lanka; it was first clean sweep in Sri Lanka but it was more remarkable because Australia won every time after giving a lead in first innings. A big credit for the win went to Martyn. He scored hundreds in the second innings at Galle and Kandy countering a Chaminda Vass and Muttiah Muralitharan on a pitch which was deteriorating as the Tests progressed.  His 161 at Kandy’s Asgiriya stadium was played under immense pressure. He arrived when Australia were 26-2 in second innings, still trailing by 65 runs.

                      His partnership with Ricky Ponting was crucial in Title win in 2003 World Cup

Later in that year when Australia toured India on a tough Indian sojourn aiming to end a series drought of 35 years, Martyn again stood out as Australia’s best batsman on the tour scoring 444 runs at 55.50 in some of the conditions which were almost unplayable. His hundred at Chennai was arguably the best knock of his career. Throughout the tour he negated India’s much vaunted spin with a brilliant footwork along with fantastic wristwork.  When Australia held the trophy at the end, Martyn was rightly adjudged Man of the Series for guarding a historical series win. Later that summer he scored three more hundred, two at home against Pakistan and one more at New Zealand.

During the period (November 2003- July 2005) Martyn scored 1862 runs at an outstanding average of 58.18 with 7 hundred in 21 Tests.  In ODIs he scored 1516 runs at 39.16 in 53 ODIs.

However, the failure in Ashes of 2005 started the downslide which ultimately ended a year later when tired of continuous touring and increasing pressure Martyn announced sudden retirement during the home Ashes of 2006-07.

The end though came very swiftly during Ashes of 2006-07

Today 49-year-old Damien Martyn has successfully forged career as entrepreneur and spends quality time with his family but for the game of cricket and his fans he has left enough memories to cherish, in his 14-year career.