Martyn to join MacGill at Trent Bridge

Nottinghamshire today announced that Damien Martyn, the Australian batsman, is to join them for the 2004 season as their second overseas player.

Martyn, who has played 39 Tests and 141 one-dayers, will join up with Stuart MacGill, his international team-mate, and the county's other overseas player. "Trent Bridge is one of the world's great cricket grounds and I have discussed with both Stuart MacGill and Mick Newell [the director of cricket] the plans which Notts have for the coming season," Martyn said. "Stuart has spoken very highly of the club and its facilities and says they're a great bunch of lads to play with."

He added, "Having another Aussie in the side will help me settle in, especially as he is a good friend of mine. But I'm also looking forward to linking up again with Jason Gallian, who I played with for a couple of years for the Australia Under-19s."

Martyn had a short stint with Yorkshire last season, and made an immediate impact by scoring over 300 runs in three innings, including a top score of 238. He said, "I've got good memories of my brief spell in county cricket with Yorkshire last year and I'm looking forward to a winning season at Trent Bridge."

"Damien is a top-quality international batsman, who meets all the criteria we identified as requirements for our second overseas player for the coming season," said Newell. "He has a proven record in English conditions and averages more than 45 in Test cricket.

"The selection of overseas players is increasingly complicated by busy international schedules which are subject to change and we have taken the precaution of identifying a possible substitute for Damien during periods when he may be required for international duty.

"I am delighted Damien is joining Notts and his signing, together with the arrivals of Ryan Sidebottom, Mark Ealham, Anurag Singh and David Alleyne, provides strength in depth to our squad."