A must read - well said S Dinakar!
Martyn — a treat for the connoisseur
By S. Dinakar
MARATHON MEN: Damien Martyn and Jason Gillespie enjoy their drinks-break during the course of their long partnership on Sunday. — Photo: R. Ragu
CHENNAI, OCT. 17. Even as the ball, directed by a stroke that was more of a caress, sped towards the third man fence, the years appeared to be rolling back with it. Damien Martyn's batsmanship is wrapped in an old world charm, where time seems to melt away.
It had been a flighted delivery from Harbhajan Singh, that had hissed off the pitch, towards the off-stump, and Martyn's response was a delightfully executed late cut, which would have, among the old-timers, evoked memories of a bygone era.
Indeed, Martyn's batsmanship is a throwback to the period when the cricketing grounds were without hoardings, when those great touch artists waltzed on sun-lit arenas, and when batting was a melodious song that would drift into the stands from the middle.
It was no different on the fourth day of the second TVS Cup Test for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when Martyn's 104 was not so much constructed as sculpted, with care and preciseness, and with a creative bent.
In Mark Waugh's shoes
In the Australian side, the 32-year-old West Australian is the logical successor to that glorious natural Mark Waugh, slicing open an attack rather than blowing it away, a delicate cut here, an exquisite cover drive there, a lovely on-drive here, an imperious flick there. Even while essaying a stroke often bristling with power, the pull, he made the shot look a lot gentler.
He had been relegated to the sidelines during the 2001 series here, the Aussie think-tank, with disastrous consequences, choosing to keep faith in a hopelessly out of form Ricky Ponting. At the Chepauk, on Sunday, Martyn showed what a folly that decision was.
Those soft hands were very much visible as he negotiated the Indian spin twins Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, his light frame beautifully balanced, whether moving forward or back, and his footwork measured with not even a hint of exaggerated movements that so curtail lesser batsmen.
In what must have been a gut-wrenching phase for the Aussies, he was in command, in control, the ease with which he negotiated a pressure situation revealing a wonderful blend of caution and aggression, and the manner in which he inspired Jason Gillespie to bat with him for almost two entire sessions showing exemplary guiding qualities.
Resilient Gillespie
Indeed, the bearded, long haired Gillespie of flaming eyes and passion filled bowling, displayed rare resilience as a night-watchman who left India frustrated in the day, often pushing his long frame forward and keeping the home spinners at bay.
The Martyn tale is one of triumph of the spirit. Here was a gifted batsman riding on his skills, who spent five agonising years in international oblivion, punished for his reckless stroke in the Sydney Test of 1993-94, when the Aussies, in pursuit of 117 for a victory against the Proteas, fell short by five runs.
He earned the reputation too of being brash and arrogant, so lacking in application and discipline, so unmindful of his own glittering gifts. It would not be until 1999, that Martyn would walk back into light, finally drafted into the Test side again.
He has since then carved out a few classics in the Australian middle-order, such a 118 at Leeds, a 133 at Johannesburg, living under the shadow of more powerful strikers of the ball such as Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, and Adam Gilchrist, still managing to establish his own identity as a smooth stroking charmer who could coax the ball into the empty spaces.
And he, in an act of much courage, did ambush India in the World Cup final of 2003, racing to an unbeaten 88, braving a broken finger.
Earlier this year, his two hundreds on the Sri Lankan campaign — 110 at Galle, and 161 at Kandy — were conjured after Australia had conceded the first innings lead. The baggy greens regrouped to win both Tests.
And the man who had gathered 2923 runs in 45 Tests at 46.39 before the Chennai encounter has now eased past the 3000-run mark, his spirit-lifting knock at Chepauk being his eighth Test hundred.
They say timing is the key in cricket, not just how a cricketer middled his strokes, but the situation in which he delivered, Martyn could not be faulted on either counts. The sweet sound of music emanated from his willow when Australia was staring at an imminent death in the second Test.
And for the connoisseurs of the game at Chepauk, some old memories came gushing back
