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ADELAIDE - New Zealand cricket's batting bunny Chris Martin admitted his exploits were starting to get embarrassing as he showed the first signs of tiring about the constant attention on his willow woes.
One of the more good-natured and approachable Black Caps, the senior paceman fielded an array of questions about his batting in Adelaide yesterday.
While Martin cracked jokes on the subject with the English media pack during the winter tour, he wasn't as forthcoming this time as the Australians quizzed him.
"I'm not proud of it," he said.
"I know that the guy who's got the ball in his hand is probably only giving himself six balls to get me.
"It's something I need to work on, and something that's getting a little bit embarrassing at the moment. The pressure of playing against Australia is compounded for me with the bat."
Martin took a solid four for 111 off 39 overs with the ball in the first test in Brisbane, and avoided his 24th test duck with scores of one in each innings where he lasted a total of 12 deliveries.
He said he was working as hard as ever on his batting, and later in the nets unleashed several powerful cover drives off the local club bowlers.
Martin admitted he didn't have a current mentor in the side since Craig McMillan retired.
"I used to work with Craig McMillan and his attitude was for me to play a few more shots, which hasn't quite worked out for me.
"As I get along in years maybe that's going to have to be an option at some stage to get the crowd and myself a little bit entertained."
Martin was candid when asked if he actually enjoyed batting in a test match.
"I'm not particularly good at it, so I suppose anything you're not too good at you don't enjoy as much. I know that I enjoy it when I'm there for longer.
"Like any batter the first six or seven balls for me are very tough."
- NZPA
