Former Australia batter Damien Martyn said the Proteas and Australia rivalry is one of the hardest in Test cricket. He spoke ahead of the first Test between the two sides at Kingsmead in Durban.
Martyn, who played 67 Tests, was speaking to Criclines. He described past tours to South Africa as “a huge scrap” against a team that played the same aggressive way as Australia.
“For us, South Africa was always the opponent that played most like ourselves,” Martyn said. “They were aggressive, in your face, and it was always hard cricket over there.”
He said The Ashes will always be Australia’s biggest series. But he rated touring South Africa and India as the toughest tests of his career.
Martyn said Johannesburg felt like the WACA in Perth because the pitch was quick and bouncy. He said the Australians loved playing there and in Durban.
He remembered the pressure from players such as Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith. “I was always terrified of Mark behind the stumps because he’d give it to you all day,” Martyn said. He added that Matthew Hayden and others gave it back.
Martyn also praised South Africa’s fast bowlers. He named Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, Mfuneko Ngam and Mornantau Hayward. He said Hayward was “particularly ugly to face” and that he played against Dale Steyn early in Steyn’s career.
“Their crowds were hostile, just as Australian crowds are hostile, and there was plenty of verbal chat in those days,” he said. He added that the weather and pitches made South Africa feel a bit like home.
On the current Australian team, Martyn backed Matt Renshaw to bring calm at the top of the order. Renshaw got some starts without big scores in the ODI series between the two teams.
“I think Matthew Renshaw is more mature now, understands his game better, and carries less self-imposed pressure,” Martyn said. He said Renshaw could balance Travis Head’s attacking style at the other end.
Martyn said Australia still had choices to make. These include whether Head opens or bats at five, where Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith bat, and how to fit in Cameron Green and Beau Webster.
He also spoke about the 2018 ball tampering scandal at Newlands. He said watching it on television was surreal, because it was clear the players would be caught.
“I’m confident it won’t happen again,” Martyn said. He said Pat Cummins and his players would want to show how Australia plays its cricket.
Martyn said Steve Smith and the senior players had enough experience to handle hostile media and crowds. He added that South Africa beat Australia in the World Test Championship cycle, so Australia will want to make up for that on the field.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.