One of many players in the Australian team who failed to find their feet until relatively late in cricketing life, Martyn has been making up for a mis-spent early career in recent years.

A truly natural batsman who scores freely outside off stump, Martyn did not find Test cricket the pushover that many – and perhaps he himself – might have expected.

A stuttering start over two years was compounded by an unforgivably unAustralian dismissal against South Africa at Sydney in 1994, a mentally weak concession of his wicket helping the visitors to a five-run victory for which Martyn was to take the blame.

The Australian cricket team has been unforgiving of errors in recent years, it is a privelege of absolute power.

And so despite becoming an established member of the ODI team in 1998, Martyn's Test exile was extended to six years before a return against New Zealand.

He subsequently played his part in a one-sided series the last time Australia visited English shores, averaging 76.40, and has been a fixture in an all-conquering team ever since.

His record in the 2002-03 series was less devastating, failing to make a century, but it is a mark of the man and the team that an average of 40 – the benchmark for greatness anywhere else in the world – counts as a disappointing campaign.

It is perhaps indicative of Martyn's status that his highest profile innings, an unbeaten 88 in a 2003 World Cup final partnership of 234 with Ricky Ponting, has been largely forgotten due to his captain's fireworks.

But having paid the price early in his career for overt brashness, his reincarnation has been characterised by a quiet effectiveness in a team of all-time superstars.

Michael Vaughan will not be fooled into underestimating the 33-year-old however as he has enjoyed successful spells in county cricket both with Leicestershire and as a Yorkshire colleague of the England captain.

Coming into the summer on the back of an outstanding series against New Zealand Martyn is a man for any strokeplay purist to keep an eye on this summer.