Damien Martyn - Should he be dropped?

[TPL288]

I have long said that Damien Martyn should be sacked. They way he played that delivery from Flintoff shows how undisciplined a player he is (irrespective of his talents). At a time when Australia needed a senior batsman to lead from the front and make a big total, he goes fishing 10 inches from off stump. He has not done anything in the last 3 test matches to support his overall test average.

[Zainub]

To be fair he hasn't been particularly lucky either, a couple of umpiring decesions could have easily gone his way and we can never say what would have happened then...

To me he actually looks like one of the few batsmen in the Australian camp, along with Michael Clarke, Ponting and Langer who have shown a level of comfort and conviction in facing the England quicks, unike Hayden, Katich and Gilchrist, all of whom have genuinely looked uneasy against the moving ball. He hasn't batted as well against Giles though, seems unsure of when to play and the ball and when not to when Giles bowls out side leg. That one delivery that got him out at Old Trafford seems to have affected his tactis against Giles, he always seems a bit unsure against him now.

But apart from that I actually rate Martyn fairly highly my self, and wouldn't consider dropping him . He obviously hasn't got as many runs to show for him self as he would have liked ideally but the number of runs he has made in this series isn't IMHO a good indicator of actually what kind of form he is/might be in.

In his case I have conviction it's only a matter of time before he does gets a big score. He needs a bit of luck to go his way, probably will suit him (and indeed most of the Aussie batsmen) if Australia can win the toss and bat first at the Oval. That would put a little less pressure on them.

[acker]

Unfortunately their is a group of Aussie players entering their mid-thirties which Martyn is one of that will after this series is over come under intense scrutinisation. Langer excluded

Martyn
Hayden
Gillespie
Kasprowicz

They can either retire gracefully or be sacked disgracefully, their choice

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Zainub

To me he actually looks like one of the few batsmen in the Australian camp, along with Michael Clarke, Ponting and Langer who have shown a level of comfort and conviction in facing the England quicks, unike Hayden, Katich and Gilchrist, all of whom have genuinely looked uneasy against the moving ball.

Absolutely. Martyn has looked a class apart from many more successful players on EITHER side... and like Vaughan prior to his big score... he seems to be playing well... without getting the rewards. He's certainly looked a better player than many who HAVE got the rewards... including Tresco, Strauss, and Flintoff.

In Langer, Ponting, Martyn and Clarke you have a quartet to rival almost any in world cricket... up there with (or above) Sehwag, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman / Ganguly. To talk of taking out the most sublime player of the four (the natural successor to Mark Waugh) seems a bit odd!

[Beny]

Originally Posted by TPL288 66102

I have long said that Damien Martyn should be sacked. They way he played that delivery from Flintoff shows how undisciplined a player he is (irrespective of his talents). At a time when Australia needed a senior batsman to lead from the front and make a big total, he goes fishing 10 inches from off stump. He has not done anything in the last 3 test matches to support his overall test average.

He's had two dodgy decisions and made a 60 in the first test. Aside from the fact that he nearly won the Allan Boarder medal has to go for something. He dug Australia out many times over the past few years.

[Trescothick's Footwork]

Originally Posted by Rachael

He's certainly looked a better player than many who HAVE got the rewards... including Tresco, Strauss, and Flintoff.

[Seamer]

Well firstly, i will say that i dislike Martyn. He is a show pony and a poser. And i hate that smart ass little grin of arrogance he gives when he is dismissed.
That said, i don't think he deserves to be dropped for the next test. He is just one of the many victims of poor umpiring this series.
But after this series, big changes will have to be made. This Aussie team are too precious for there own good. A new coach is needed and to rule with an iron fist. For example, Haydens form slump. He should have been worked like a dog in the nets and in between given catching practice. What did they do? Sent him on a fishing trip instead.
Australia only have one 2day tour match before the Oval test. Absolute rubbish. They need a good 4day tour game at the minimum and practice sessions in between.
They have become to lazy and complacent. Buchanan has to go for a new hard-line coach who starts off the first team meeting with the line "I am a hard man but a fair man" then "Things are going to be changing around here" followed by "time to buck up or ship out" finished by "Right, lets get cracking - two laps around the oval, then the nets and after that fielding practice for two hours and then we will hit the gym!" then "Come on! what are you waiting for - NOW!!!!"
Thats what these precious petals need. No more moddy-coddling.

[Irish Left Armer]

I have heard it suggested that they are suffering from "good bloke syndrome"

"Post lifted from a football forum"

Think part of the problen with Aus at the moment is that it's like a little private in-club. If you're a good bloke you get looked after. "Gees Jase is a good bloke, let's ignore the signs that he's just not the same bowler and keep playing him". "Gees Matty a top bloke, let's ignore the fact that he's done **** all for the last 4-5 series".

Boonie's one of the selectors and he's a good bloke and mate to a few of the players. And of course they've just appointed Merv Hughes as a selector, what a great bloke, Hughessssiieeee!!!.
Ignore the fact that he turned up late at his first team meeting , after all he's leading a fans tour party and was probably on the ****. In fact at OT he was sitting with the party in the outer drinking ****. What a great bloke!!!

They had a chance after the 1st Test to really turn the screws and build on any doubts that must have been creeping in the England players' mind. Freddie must have thought, **** 0 & 3. But they give Gillespie and Hayden another chance and lose the momentum.

Michael Hussey should have been selected for the tour and should have played in the 1st Test but the selectors didn't even pick a third opener even though Hayden's been struggling for ages. Not just loss of form but his ego has gone out of control.
Look at how he went off at Simon Jones in the one dayer, it was an accident and he should have just accepted the apology and shut up. Instead acts like a prima donna.

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

I
Look at how he went off at Simon Jones in the one dayer, it was an accident and he should have just accepted the apology and shut up. Instead acts like a prima donna.

Agree with everything else bar this comment. It was no accident that the ball was thrown the way it was thrown, as there was no need to throw it at all.

Seems funny when an Australian did the same thing it was the English fans that stated it was childish of him to throw the ball like that. But with the English player doing it they stated that he should of just got on with it.

[Irish Left Armer]

Personally I think that unless there is a real chance of running the batsman out then they shouldn't do that stuff at all. If you want to try and intimidate the batsman then bounce him or something. It's stupid no matter who's doing it.