Shock as Martyn walks away

DAMIEN Martyn has shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from the game.

Martyn informed Cricket Australia this morning that he would withdraw from the squad for the third Ashes Test in Perth.

He has retired from all international and domestic cricket.

In a statement issued by CA, Martyn said he no longer remained 100 per cent committed to the game.

"I feel therefore, it's time for me to move aside, '' he said.

"I've enjoyed everything the game has given me. I have gained from it more than I could ever have imagined.

"I have made in the playing of cricket, life-long friends."

Martyn thanked his Australian team-mates and captain Ricky Ponting for their support.

However he conceded his surprise decision to retire might put some of his colleagues off side.

"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," he said.

"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 per cent.

"I wish everyone associated with Cricket Australia the very best."

Ponting said in the statement he and the other team members would miss Martyn's presence.

"Martyn 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," Ponting said.

Martyn, 35, had been under pressure for his place in the side after he failed to make an impression in the first two Ashes tests, scoring just 35 runs in three innings.

He received widespread criticism after getting out for five in the second innings of the second Test in Adelaide when he recklessly charged Andrew Flintoff and cut the ball to gully.

However he made his decision to quit of his own volition and was not forced out.

Cricket Australia has yet to announce who will take his place in the side.

Martyn played 67 tests for Australia from 1992 and scored 4,406 runs and 13 centuries.

He represented Western Australia in state cricket.

Martyn made his Test debut in 1992 against the West Indies at the Gabba but lost his place the following season when he was widely condemned for playing a costly shot in Australia's narrow loss to South Africa at the SCG.

He spent six years out of the Test team but regained his place during Australia's tour of New Zealand.

He cemented his position in the team during the 2001 Ashes series, when he scored his maiden Test century at Edgbaston.

Martyn went on to establish himself as a permanent member of the side batting at No.4, which included an outstanding 2004 when he scored six centuries in a calendar year.

However he lost his place again, after the 2005 Ashes series loss in England.

He returned to the team during this year's tour of South Africa, where he scored a match-winning 101 in the first Test at Johannesburg.

However his five innings' since that century yielded 56 runs.

Martyn averaged 46.38 in his 67 Tests with a highest score of 165.

He also played 208 one-day internationals for Australia, including five centuries, and starred in his side's win over India in the 2003 World Cup final, when he scored an unbeaten 88 in a huge partnership with Ponting.

Cricket Australia said Martyn was currently travelling outside Western Australia and was unavailable for comment.