Anthony Martin, the West Indies leg-spinner, wasn’t the most naturally talented cricketers but he certainly was impressive. The Antiguan got only 11 ODIs under his belt with his final match in his hometown of Antigua coming against India back in 2011.
It was a great match. The leg-spinner, who had modest numbers in his tally until then, claimed the best bowling figures of his career, a spell of four for 36 to help West Indies defend 249 to win by a whopping 103 runs.
Such breakthrough performances generally take the player to the next level in terms of reputation. But, in Martin’s case, it was the opposite, as the match in which he gave his best showing turned out to be one of his last ODIs.
Outspoken Character:
Martin now works as an Antiguan firefighter. Apart from the full-time job, he also drives a truck. Today, he has grown enough to employ a driver with him.
He admits that his straightforward nature cost him his place in the team and reveals that the selectors favour only those who try to please them.
“I am not friends with selectors. This team is made up of people who are friends with selectors, share drink with them. I don’t, so I have not been in the team.”
“These players, they have done nothing to deserve a place in the team. You see the performance, it’s a team of friends. I don’t do nothing (to appease them)” he says as he drives through St John’s with wife and daughter.
Still Confident
Martin these days is a busy man involved in completely different sort of work to earn a living. However, despite staying out of touch with the game, he claims that he can still outclass the men playing in the current West Indies team.
“I am still better than whoever is playing now.”
He also felt that he could have survived the tough period had someone backed him. He reveals that he expected former Antiguans cricketers to endorse him but no one came forward.
“No one has pushed for the inclusion of my name. None of the great Antiguan cricketers have bothered to push my name,” he says when asked if former greats Viv Richards, Curtly Ambrose and Any Roberts have come forward to push his case.
“I don’t go and ask them to do that, just like I don’t speak to the selectors. If I am good enough, then I should be getting an opportunity. And I believe I am better than the rest.”
IPL Dreams
Martin, however, hasn’t put his cricket career behind. He still harbours big dreams but it is not playing for West Indies. He aims to play in the Indian Premier League at some point in time.
“I want to play just one IPL game and have a crack at the top batsmen like in the RCB. I want to show these guys where they have erred.”