http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Damien-Richard-Martyn-c52172’s delightful timing stood in contrast to his contemporaries - Opinion
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746’s reign of terror in the 1990’s was almost characterized by an all out aggressive approach, which meant business on the field. A bowling attack that could scare the socks out of the opposition would often be supplemented by amazing stroke makers
who could hit the ball incredibly hard. Yet one man stood out in terms of calmness, shrewdness, immaculate timing and guiding the ball for the most part of his career. He became a batsman who overwhelmed those hailing from the classical school of thought.
He might not go down as an outright legend in world cricket, but his record certainly puts him with the most prolific batsmen of his era.
Damien Martyn was a product of Darwin and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Western-Australia-c865, and was one of the country's most complete batsmen. With an average of 40 in ODI cricket and a best score close to 150, Martyn’s approach towards batting was simple, orthodox, yet firm. He played
the ball late which caused numerous problems for swing bowlers who aimed to beat his defenses. He, unlike Hayden or Ponting, had no bat lift either, as he was comfortable with connecting the ball and maneuvering it through the gaps. Even the fastest of bowlers
found bowling to Martyn a cumbersome task, given that he could time the ball sweetly, instead of thrashing the leather with a willow in his hand.
Some of his finest innings have come in times when Australia needed a genuine middle-order batsman. Martyn’s 144 not out came against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in 2001, when his side was in serious trouble. He was at ease with playing strokes all around the wicket, and contrary
to popular belief, he had the amazing ability to clear the rope if the need arose during that game.
His batting style has drawn comparisons with his counterpart http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Gwyl-Bevan-c75927, whose average of nearly 54 stood unparalleled in the ODI format during his days. Like Bevan, Martyn believed in connecting with the ball which was characterized by pushing it for
four instead of smashing it to all parts of the ground like his other team mates.
Players like Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting almost gained notoriety for the most part of Australia’s reign of terror, for decimating the figures of some of the thriftiest of bowlers. For Martyn it was more about staying calm, composed, and ensuring that bad
balls would be hit for four with a silken touch. He was similar in style to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013. Bell stands out as the most technically correct and graceful of the English batsmen playing today, where he has always resorted to hitting the ball off the meat
of the bat, regardless of how fast the ball has been deployed at him. The same was the case with Martyn, who made batting look so easy and pleasing to the eye, that any youngster with an aesthetic sense couldn’t help but try to emulate him in full flow.
He was an important, albeit less significant part of the Australian line up of cricketers that dominated world cricket. He was also one of the better looking Australian players, and rivalled http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 in that department. Yet elegance and grace will forever
be associated with Martyn who gave a unique dimension towards batting in a country known to produce ferocious strikers of the cricket ball.
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