Published: Mar 06, 2013, 04:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 06, 2013, 04:53 PM (IST)
Former Australian batsman Damien Martyn was the top-scorer for Australia on their previous tour of India in 2004 © AFP
Sydney: Mar 6, 2013
Former Australian middle-order batsman Damien Martyn has come down heavily on Australian batsmen and their failure in the heavy defeat in the second Test at Hyderabad and has questioned the rationale behind selection of a few players.
Martyn was the player of the series in Australia‘s historic 2-1 win in India in 2004, scoring two centuries and topping the scoring tally with 444 runs at an average of 55. He was upset by the lack of fighting spirit shown by the Australian batsmen in the ongoing series.
”I was more disappointed probably by our second innings – the wicket was hard to bat on, yes, it’s doing a bit more and turning more,” said Martyn, as reported by Sydney Morning Herald.
”But to be bowled out in a session – it’s just disappointing in the sense that, where was the fight? I’m not saying we need to make 400 or whatever, but just in our shot selection and running between wickets. Batting in India, or batting on any wicket, the harder the wicket is, the longer you bat it becomes easier because you’re used to the conditions, you’re used to the ball coming on,” he added.
Martyn also questioned the selection of the Australian squad and expressed his concern over the failure to field the best playing eleven in both the Tests.
“What is Steve Smith there for anyway? We have a squad here of players who do bits and pieces. Nothing personal against them. Yes, they might be great one-day players and Twenty20 players, but in that line-up the [Glenn] Maxwells and all these guys, what’s their main thing? That’s what I want to know. Is Maxwell going to be our main off-spinner in England? Because if he’s not, then don’t worry about him, get (Nathan) Lyon back in,” he said.
But the chances of Lyon’s return to action may take a while as the next Test will take place in Mohali, where the wicket promises enough bounce for Australia to revert to their system of three pacers.
Mickey Arthur, the Australian coach, was asked if Lyon would be brought back into the side for the third Test and he said,” To answer that truthfully, I’m not sure,” he said. “We will have to have a look and see where he is over the next couple of days. I’m not sure on that, time will tell I guess. I think Nathan still has a massive future and he probably he is up there as our best spinner at the moment, but you fluctuate in and out of form and he’s learning the game at international level, which is a really tough gig for him.”
