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Aussie Martyn decides to retire Martyn announces shock retirement
(30 minutes later)
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.
Cricket Australia boss John Sutherland said Martyn had been picked for the third Test despite scoring only 45 runs in three innings in the current Ashes. He indicated he no longer had the motivation to perform at his best.
Martyn hinted he was struggling to find the motivation to perform at his best. Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland confirmed Martyn would have kept his place despite scoring only 45 runs in three innings in the first two games.
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. Martyn, who scored 4,406 Test runs in 67 appearances at an average of 46.37, said he was fully aware of the "tremendous challenges facing Australian cricketd" during the 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. I realised that I may lose friends in what I am doing Damien Martyn
"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. But he continued: "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 paid tribute to Martyn's contribution to the success of the team in both Test and one-day cricket, describing him as "one of the world's most unsung players".
"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 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 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." "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."
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. His 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's bravery helped Australia lift the World Cup in 2003
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, from Western Australia, was dropped from the national team on a number of occasions during his career, the first time after a loose shot against South Africa in Sydney in January 1994, when Australia failed to reach a target of 117 and were beaten by six runs.
Martyn compiled two centuries in three innings against Sri Lanka in 2004 and successive hundreds in India later that year. He had to wait more than six years for another chance and made the most of it by hitting the first of 13 Test centuries at Edgbaston on the 2001 Ashes tour.
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. His career took another downturn in 2005 when he managed only one half century as Australia lost the Ashes in England, but returned for the tour to South Africa at the start of this year and made 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 scored an unbeaten 88 as Australia beat India in the 2003 World Cup final despite batting with a broken finger and recently played a leading role as they won the ICC Champions Trophy with two half centuries and an unbeaten 47 in the final against West Indies.
"Damien's decision has come as a surprise to us but I fully respect his decision to retire on his terms," said Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive.
"He has been a wonderful servant to Australian cricket for many years and has played an integral part in Australia being the number one Test and ODI team in the world."