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| March 30, 2003 | Sunday | Muharram 26, 1424 |
Injury puts Martyn doubtful for tour
MELBOURNE, March 29: Australia batsman Damien Martyn is an injury doubt for the four-Test tour of the West Indies and will not fly out with skipper Steve Waugh’s side on Monday.
The 31-year-old scored an unbeaten 88 from 84 balls in the World Cup final win over India in Johannesburg on March 23. He had fractured his right index finger in a match against Kenya eight days earlier and carried the injury into the final.
Right-hander Martyn will remain in Perth next week for further scans and treatment, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) said in a statement released on Saturday.
“Following a review of the injury, a decision will be made about the Western Australian’s short-term future and ability to take part in the tour,” the ACB said.
Martyn, who has 33 Test caps, said: “I’m naturally disappointed that I won’t be on the plane to the West Indies come Monday, but it’s important that I allow the treatment to take its course and get things right for good.
“The World Cup final was a special moment for me and the pain of injury was probably numbed by the joy of winning the match, but going into another long campaign, I want to be as fit as possible,” added Martyn, who boasts a Test average of 46.51 with five centuries.
A decision on a possible replacement in the 15-man squad would be made after the batsman’s medical review was completed, the ACB said.
Australian team physio-
therapist Errol Alcott said although Martyn’s finger had responded well to treatment in South Africa during the World Cup, further therapy was needed for it to regain full movement.
“He will be reviewed by a hand specialist in Perth next week, after which we will have a clearer picture as to his availability for the remainder of the tour,” Alcott said in the ACB statement.
Martyn played in the World Cup final with the help of pain-killers as he and Ricky Ponting put on a record, unbeaten stand of 234.—Reuters/AFP
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