BBC SPORT | THE ASHES | Runs galore!

Australian batsman Justin Langer continues his Ashes tour diary for BBC Sport Online.

15 July

Damien Martyn continued his incredible run of batting form with his fifth century of the tour.

Playing with the same ruthless concentration of our illustrious captain Steve Waugh, 'Marto', has found a method of tempering his naturally aggressive style with a hunger for runs reserved for a champion.

Any player, who can score consistently, marks himself as a master of his trade.

When you consider the transformation he has made to his body and mind over the last few years, the Damien Martyn story is one of the success stories of Australian cricket.

Down and out about three years ago, and just hanging on to his first class cricket career, my Western Australian team-mate decided to change his lifestyle and attitude to the game.

As a result, he is now one of the fittest players within the team, and his concentration and belief in his own method, is producing runs, runs, runs, in all forms of the game.

Damien Martyn hits another boundary at Taunton
Martyn - one of the fittest players in the team

It is a credit to the man that he is now enjoying the success that he thoroughly deserves.

His outstanding contribution is making life difficult for his mates who are trying to regain a place in the team.

This is one of the reasons why Australian cricket is so strong, because you have to be the best of the best to make it into the team.

If you are not in the best of the best, you simply don't cut it.

It sounds a hard school, but that is because it is a tough school. If you are not on your guard all of the time you are out - simple as that.

With one day to go in this contest, I get the feeling the guys are starting to warm up for what promises to be one of the biggest Test matches in our careers.

The Lords Test is the ultimate for an Australian Test cricketer.

The home of cricket, and the second Test of this Ashes series, sets the perfect scene for one of the best weeks of our lives.

So much expectation and so much excitement, for five days of Test cricket.

While we want to beat Somerset and stay in the winning habit, minds are starting to wander to bigger stages somewhere around St Johns Wood in London.

From Taunton, Somerset.


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