Damien Martyn - Should he be dropped?

[acker]

The guy's 22 or 23 Beny, I know this word is obscure to you but I will put it in bold letters anyway.

Development

remember that 21 year old useless skinny runt Steve Waugh, who had to wait his turn behind that great player Dirk Welham.

Or that young upstart spinner Shane Warne, who was not closer to 40 rather than 30 like those great doyens of Aussie spin Hohn's and Holland.

So your suggestion is let's continue the Ashes losing "Dad's Army" approach.

Bury them instead of drop e'm hey Beny.

[Beny]

So we should spend two or three years getting caned while these guys develop, why not just pick them up when they're 27/28 and are actauly ready to play in the big time... It would save a lot of pain. I'm not a fan of picking players for our test side, who can't proform in Pura Cup cricket. There will always be exceptions but White is no Steve Waugh or Shane Warne.

[acker]

Both Waugh's were well and truly going before they were 27-28 yo. 2-3 years is about the time we have have to wait before we have another attempt to win back the ashes. Notice the English players missing this time from the past ashes campaign

Stewart
Butcher
Caddick
White
Keys

I remember them arguing the loss of those guys to their team, but now I dont think anyone is complaining.
Nothing lasts forever, the time has come to tell a few players to move on.

[Prince EWS]

I have no doubt that they would love to have Stewart back...

[Doink]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Well he is not 35 for a start!!

Hmm ok! But he'll very soon be 34! I guess it is time to look forward. I'm surprised nobody thought of Symonds as a possible contender...

[Colourful Chaddi]

I don't think Damien Martyn shouldn't be removed from the team-it would be a knee-jerk! He is a very good middle order batsmen and is a solid no.4, without him the Australians batting line up looks weak. A player shouldn't be judged on just one series, its wrong, he should be given a chnace like all the other Ausytralians who were below-par in this series. What would you say if Adam Gilchrist was dropped?

[Big Merv]

Adam Gilchrist can still keep wicket well. It's just an added bonus that he can bat. If he is in a form slump he should still be in the side as keeper.

[Leafy Seadragon]

But his keeping was as bad as his batting for much of the series. However, IMO talk of dropping him is still pretty knee-jerk. I strongly suspect that the batting and keeping go hand in hand - confidence from one supporting the other. If he really is struggling, then that should be evident fairly soon; but for now, he'd still be one of the first names I'd have on the team sheet

[Big Merv]

I for one think that Gilchrist's spot in the side is safe.

[Doink]

Yup, Gilchrist's first job is to keep wickts and he's done that as well as anyone could. Yes he did not contribute with the bat but he atleast did his main job well. Martyn is in the team only 4 his batting and he had a miserable time. I know its unfair to drop such huge personalities just becoz they failed in one series but now is the time the Aussies need to look ahead and prepare for the future. They just have to let in young blood in who can carry on the rich Aussie tradition of 'winning and only winning' forward.