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| Aussie Martyn decides to retire | Aussie Martyn decides to retire |
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| Australia batsman Damien Martyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. | Australia batsman Damien Martyn has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. |
| Martyn, 35, told Cricket Australia of his surprise decision just before they were due to announce the squad for the third Ashes Test on Friday. | Martyn, 35, told Cricket Australia of his surprise decision just before they were due to announce the squad for the third Ashes Test on Friday. |
| He had been expected to be named in the team despite criticism for scoring only 45 runs in three innings in the current Ashes, with a top score of 29. | He had been expected to be named in the team despite criticism for scoring only 45 runs in three innings in the current Ashes, with a top score of 29. |
| Martyn hinted he was struggling to find the motivation to perform at his best. | Martyn hinted he was struggling to find the motivation to perform at his best. |
| Martyn - who scored 4,406 Test runs in 67 appearances at an average of 46.37, including 13 centuries - said he had "a deep awareness of the opportunities that the game and Cricket Australia have provided for me. | |
| I realised that I may lose friends in what I am doing Damien Martyn "However, I'm also aware of the tremendous challenges facing Australian cricket including this current Ashes series. | I realised that I may lose friends in what I am doing Damien Martyn "However, I'm also aware of the tremendous challenges facing Australian cricket including this current Ashes series. |
| "Such challenges require people who are more than 100% committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game, what it seeks to achieve and how those involved in the game can best serve cricket, sport and the wider community. | "Such challenges require people who are more than 100% committed, dedicated, disciplined and passionate about the game, what it seeks to achieve and how those involved in the game can best serve cricket, sport and the wider community. |
| "I said to myself when I made this decision in the last 48 hours that I may lose friends in doing what I'm doing. | "I said to myself when I made this decision in the last 48 hours that I may lose friends in doing what I'm doing. |
| "But I also said to myself that if I stayed doing what I was doing I may equally lose respect for myself and the friendship of those around me who are entitled to expect from me more than 100%." | "But I also said to myself that if I stayed doing what I was doing I may equally lose respect for myself and the friendship of those around me who are entitled to expect from me more than 100%." |
| Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: "It is obviously something Damien has thought long and hard about and I know that I and all of the other members of the team will miss him greatly. | Australia captain Ricky Ponting said: "It is obviously something Damien has thought long and hard about and I know that I and all of the other members of the team will miss him greatly. |
| "He is one of the world's most unsung players in both forms of the game and I don't think it is really understood how good a player he actually is. | "He is one of the world's most unsung players in both forms of the game and I don't think it is really understood how good a player he actually is. |
| "He is one of those players who, as the conditions and situations got harder and more difficult, the better he became and I know I will miss his influence on the Australian team." | "He is one of those players who, as the conditions and situations got harder and more difficult, the better he became and I know I will miss his influence on the Australian team." |
| Martyn's place in the squad for the third Ashes Test, which starts on 14 December in Perth, has been taken by uncapped 27-year-old batsman Adam Voges. | Martyn's place in the squad for the third Ashes Test, which starts on 14 December in Perth, has been taken by uncapped 27-year-old batsman Adam Voges. |
| Martyn, from Western Australian, was dropped from the Australia team on several occasions throughout his lengthy international career, most notably after a loose shot against South Africa in Sydney in January 1994, when Australia failed to achieve a target of 117 and were beaten by six runs. | Martyn, from Western Australian, was dropped from the Australia team on several occasions throughout his lengthy international career, most notably after a loose shot against South Africa in Sydney in January 1994, when Australia failed to achieve a target of 117 and were beaten by six runs. |
| Following that defeat he was not included at Test level for more than six years, but regained his place, and struck his maiden Test century at Edgbaston on the 2001 Ashes tour. | Following that defeat he was not included at Test level for more than six years, but regained his place, and struck his maiden Test century at Edgbaston on the 2001 Ashes tour. |
| Martyn compiled two centuries in three innings against Sri Lanka in 2004 and successive hundreds in India later that year. | Martyn compiled two centuries in three innings against Sri Lanka in 2004 and successive hundreds in India later that year. |
| He made only one half-century in the 2005 Ashes in England and was dropped for the Test against a World XI shortly afterwards, but returned for the tour of South Africa in 2006, making 101 in the final Test in Johannesburg as Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash. | He made only one half-century in the 2005 Ashes in England and was dropped for the Test against a World XI shortly afterwards, but returned for the tour of South Africa in 2006, making 101 in the final Test in Johannesburg as Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash. |
| Martyn was also a prolific one-day batsman, scoring 5,346 runs from 208 matches at an average of 40, with five hundreds and 37 fifties. | Martyn was also a prolific one-day batsman, scoring 5,346 runs from 208 matches at an average of 40, with five hundreds and 37 fifties. |
| He played a leading role in Australia's victory at the Champions Trophy in India, scoring two half-centuries and adding an unbeaten 47 to guide his team home in the final against West Indies. | He played a leading role in Australia's victory at the Champions Trophy in India, scoring two half-centuries and adding an unbeaten 47 to guide his team home in the final against West Indies. |