No one destroys me on my ground: Martin
It is just as well that Anthony Martin is a local fire-fighter. West Indies were grateful to find one among them after the leg spinner set up an impressive win in the fourth one-day international on Monday to lift the gloom. N Ananthanarayanan writes.
It is just as well that Anthony Martin is a local fire-fighter. West Indies were grateful to find one among them after the leg spinner set up an impressive win in the fourth one-day international on Monday to lift the gloom.
After capturing a match-winning four for 36 against batsmen who are arguably the best players of spin, Martin declared: "The Trinidad pitch was slow but this is my pitch. No one comes here and destroys me on my pitch. I am here to destroy whoever I play against here. India are the world champions and I am so happy to do that against them."
Martin sounded more like a grumpy cop and spoke with the aggression of a fast bowler for which Antigua is more famous. He began as a pacer aged 15 but a serious back injury threatened his career. He then took up off-spin but found the under-19 team had two others who were better than him. It was leg spin then, which he used to bowl while warming up as a pacer.
"The L (losing) word is not in my dictionary," he said. "Sometimes I do a bit of fire fighting and on other times regular police work. Whatever is there to do, I do. I am self motivated because I know what I want."
The 28-year-old did well after opening the bowling in the first game in Queen's Park Oval. He was dropped for the third ODI at his home ground, which left him hurt. On Monday, he impressed with flight and a middle stump line that lured the batsmen to their doom.
Asked about Antigua's tradition of fast bowlers, Andy Roberts and Curtly Ambrose, he said: "I'm here to make a difference, that is it."
That he did in a big way, having Virat Kohli stumped and Suresh Raina caught under pressure before getting the key wicket of Rohit Sharma, who also miscued trying a heave over midwicket. Martin's form will boost the side where young leg spinner Devendra Bishoo has already been very consistent.
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