reps for that !Sando said:If you're after facts, you should check the stats. A player doesn't have to be scoring 100's to be in form. Since his recall to Test match cricket he has maintained and excellent average each year
2000 (8 innings) 2 50s 0 100s avg. 80.25
2001 (14 innings) 4 50s 3 100s avg. 65.80
2002 (16 innings) 4 50s 2 100s avg. 41.06
2003 (9 innings) 2 50s 0 100s avg. 42.38
2004 (26 innings) 5 50s 6 100s avg. 56.38
2005 (13 innings) 2 50s 1 100s avg. 36.92
Marto had 4 average matches, in one dig he was run out, and in two others he received some of the poorest umpiring decisions ever to be handed down. In the 12 months prior to the Ashes series his form was as good as anyone in the world, and was instrumental in two of the most impressive series wins Australia has acheived in recent years.
No question he was a scapegoat and deserves a place in this Australian side. Unfortunately for him, so do alot of other blokes going around. But you can't say that he isn't capable of again being one of the finest players in the game, unless of course you apply the good old experts logic (can't believe Hayden is still in the side, did you see him in the Ashes, he's too old..... past it....)
aditya123 said:reps for that !![]()
I don`t think Marto has ever failed long enough to be dropped . He was at the receiving end of some poor decisions during the Ashes . Just 4-5 failures and you drop a man who has scored 6 Test match 100s the previous years ! Height of arrogance by the Aussie selectors .
It was Marto who won you a series in India after 4 decades . Had he not batted a day and a half in game at Chennai, the game woul have been over in 4 days before the rain could interrupt on the last day .
He has also scored 100s in SRL against on dreadful tracks (against Murali,Vaas and Co.).
I would rather have a Martyn kind of a player in full flow in the test side than Symo (who is a tremendous ODI cricketer) .
Why are we looking at age . Was`nt Marto nearing 35 when you picked the Ashes squad ? Did `Tugga` not play till 39 ?
If a player is good enough to be selected in the test side, then he must be selected irrespective of his age .
First they tried Watson who is a honest trier at best an them Symo who would get smashed by better batting lineups . Symo or Watson will never be your answer to Freddie .langerrox said:great points reps for you, Martyo should be in the team and NEEDS to be, our middle order is so fragile without him, heck play 5 bowlers and 5 batsman.
No more Martyn!I know you wanted him to faillangerrox said:id like to see how long he can ride on this perfomance, granted he does nothing for a few matches, seeing Clarke rode on 2 centuries for about 2 years
Wait,SAF are a very good batting side.They bat right down to 9.Not many sides can say that.Symonds bowled brilliantly.I watched him and was very surprised at the lift and cut he got.aditya123 said:First they tried Watson who is a honest trier at best an them Symo who would get smashed by better batting lineups . Symo or Watson will never be your answer to Freddie .
So why are you guys so bothered about having a genuine all rounder in the side when you`ve ruled world cricket for a decade withouut one .