Martyn hopes for Test recall

Published January 11, 2006

BRISBANE, Jan 10: Ashes discard Damien Martyn views his form in this month’s triangular one-day series as his chance to get back into the Australian Test team.

Martyn, sacked after a below-par Ashes series in England last September, hammered 96 off 56 balls in a man-of-the-match performance in Australia’s 95-run win over South Africa in their Twenty20 international here on Monday.

Martyn’s knock included seven boundaries and five sixes and continued a resurgence for the former Test stalwart, who is out of favour with the selectors.

Martyn said a Test recall was on his mind but realised a few things needed to go his way.

“You never give up on it,” he said Tuesday. “I’m not going to sit here and say ‘no, I never want to play again’, but you’ve got to be realistic as well that (if there’s) a chance, a lot of things might have to happen.”

“I don’t really mull over it and worry about it. It’s just really going back to state cricket and making runs and trying to enjoy it and the VB (triangular) Series.”

Martyn said he had no regrets about his Test career that has been stalled at 61 caps.

“If that’s the last Test match I’ve played then I certainly won’t look back and have any regrets with what’s happened,” he said.

“I certainly would have taken 60 Test matches 10 years ago.”

Martyn’s case for a recall has been blocked by the form of newcomers Brad Hodge and Mike Hussey while fellow discard Michael Clarke is also waiting for a chance to break back into the team.

Australia launch the triangular one-day series against Sri Lanka in Melbourne on Friday and then play South Africa at the Gabba on Sunday.—AFP

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