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Damien Martyn

Damien martyn
Damien martyn Image: Wikimedia Commons. Taken with Nikon D100 by Wayne McLean archive copy at the Wayback Machine ( jgritz) / CC BY-SA 2.5

Overview

Damien Richard Martyn (born 21 October 1971) is an Australian former cricketer who represented his country in Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket. A right-handed middle-order batsman with a classical technique, Martyn was renowned for his elegant strokemaking square of the wicket on the off-side and through the covers. After making sporadic appearances for the national side between 1992 and 1994, he became a regular fixture in the Australian Test and ODI line-ups from 2000 until his retirement in late 2006.

Key facts

Full name Damien Richard Martyn
Date of birth 21 October 1971
Nationality Australian
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right-arm medium pace (occasional)
Primary role Middle-order batsman
Fielding position Covers (also occasional wicket-keeper at first-class level)
International career 1992–1994; 2000–2006
Major honours ICC Cricket World Cup (1999, 2003); ICC Champions Trophy (2006); Allan Border Medal Australian Test Player of the Year (2005)

Background and playing style

Martyn was primarily a right-handed batsman who batted in the middle order. His technique was widely regarded as classical, and he was particularly noted for elegant strokeplay square of the wicket on the off-side and through the covers. In addition to his batting, he was an occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler. Martyn was also a distinguished fieldsman, stationed primarily in the covers, where he was known for his ability to set up and execute spectacular run-outs. On rare occasions, he also kept wicket at first-class level.

International career

Early appearances (1992–1994)

Martyn made his initial appearances for the Australian national team between 1992 and 1994, but featured only sporadically during this period.

Established years (2000–2006)

From 2000 onwards, Martyn established himself as a regular member of the Australian Test and ODI sides, retaining his place until his retirement in late 2006.

Major achievements

  • Member of the Australian squads that won two consecutive ICC Cricket World Cups, in 1999 and 2003.
  • Member of the Australian team that won the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy.
  • Named Man of the Series in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy in 2004, when Australia defeated India on the subcontinent for the first time in more than 30 years.
  • Named the Australian Test Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal presentations in early 2005.

Significance

Martyn's contribution to Australian cricket spanned one of the most successful eras in the country's cricketing history. His role in back-to-back World Cup victories, the Champions Trophy triumph, and the landmark 2004 series win in India underlines his importance to the Australian middle order during the early 2000s. The recognition of his form with the Allan Border Medal's Test Player of the Year award in 2005 reflects the consistency he achieved at the highest level.

References