Sorry Marto, but criticism and comment is part of the game
December 11th 2006 02:59
The sudden departure of Damien Martyn from the Australian cricket team left many observers, cricketnews.com.au included, a little bemused. Never one to actively court the media Martyn cited a lack of desire to continue in the public spotlight as one of the reasons for his departure.
For Martyn departing on his own terms was important in terms of maintaining his own sense of self-respect. The example he sets is a good one and other team members in the twilight of their careers would do well to follow. Darren Gough and Alan Donald will attest to the poor returns from hanging on too long just to fend off a few critics for another match or two.
Slightly more perplexing were reports suggesting that it was the constant scrutiny of his place in the team that got to Martyn and forced his hand in making the decision to retire. Cricketers are like swimmers and politicians in this country. Performances, on and off the field, are subject to endless comment and analysis. The support of the Australian public doesn’t come in a one size fits all nobody can say anything unless it is positive cap of intent.
Just as the media are entitled to comment on Libby Lenton’s more powerful figure after an off season of hard training and whether or not Kevin Rudd has a short temper as newly elected opposition leader so too they are entitled to comment on whether or not Damien Martyn should hold his place in the team.
The fact that Martyn did not actively engage the media in this career as others have done does not exempt him from their scrutiny when it comes to commenting on his batting or contribution to the team. Perhaps some of the media training given to players should be expanded to include strategies to cope with criticism and comment. So long as the public are interested in following the national team so to will they be interested in reading stories that comment and analyse, positively or negatively.
We’d be living in a sad democracy and defying our proud tradition of free speech if covering a sport meant only providing positive comment on players and administrators all the time.
For Martyn departing on his own terms was important in terms of maintaining his own sense of self-respect. The example he sets is a good one and other team members in the twilight of their careers would do well to follow. Darren Gough and Alan Donald will attest to the poor returns from hanging on too long just to fend off a few critics for another match or two.
Slightly more perplexing were reports suggesting that it was the constant scrutiny of his place in the team that got to Martyn and forced his hand in making the decision to retire. Cricketers are like swimmers and politicians in this country. Performances, on and off the field, are subject to endless comment and analysis. The support of the Australian public doesn’t come in a one size fits all nobody can say anything unless it is positive cap of intent.
Just as the media are entitled to comment on Libby Lenton’s more powerful figure after an off season of hard training and whether or not Kevin Rudd has a short temper as newly elected opposition leader so too they are entitled to comment on whether or not Damien Martyn should hold his place in the team.
The fact that Martyn did not actively engage the media in this career as others have done does not exempt him from their scrutiny when it comes to commenting on his batting or contribution to the team. Perhaps some of the media training given to players should be expanded to include strategies to cope with criticism and comment. So long as the public are interested in following the national team so to will they be interested in reading stories that comment and analyse, positively or negatively.
We’d be living in a sad democracy and defying our proud tradition of free speech if covering a sport meant only providing positive comment on players and administrators all the time.
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Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Never before have two voices that belonged to namesakes been so appalling in their bias.
If the media is turning on the Australian team, nobody told them.
Comment by DavidH
Defending the indefensible
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