Ex-goalkeeper Martyn savours England cricket call

Breaking news from the world of sport: Ex-goalkeeper Martyn savours England cricket callImage source, England SeniorsImage caption, Nigel Martyn's professional football career spanned nearly two decadesByTimothy AbrahamBBC Sport JournalistPublished18 minutes agoThe names of those to play both cricket and football for England conjures up the feeling of a very different era: cigarette cards, blazers and the faint whiff of Brylcreem. Sporting greats of a bygone time such as Denis Compton, CB Fry and Tip Foster are among the 12 men to do it. Arthur Milton was the last man when he played the first of six Tests in 1958 - seven years after he won his solitary England football cap against Austria.

Another on the verge of joining that pantheon is of a more recent vintage in the form of goalkeeper Nigel Martyn. Martyn, capped 23 times by the Three Lions in football, has forced his way into the reckoning for the England Over-60s cricket team after returning to a sport he has always loved. He might be a little greyer at the temples but the prospect of becoming a dual international this summer has nevertheless stirred something in him.

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"It's pretty special," Martyn told Sport. "Obviously as a professional goalkeeper I wasn't allowed to play cricket in the summer, as it would threaten breaking fingers and things like that. "I retired with a stress factor on my ankle so I didn't think I was able to play cricket again.

But I got the all-clear to do it in about 2011 so I started playing again. "Martyn got his professional football break for Bristol Rovers in 1987 after being recommended to their then manager Gerry Francis by the club's tea lady Vi Harris. The Cornishman later played for Crystal Palace, Leeds and Everton, making 666 league appearances before he retired in 2006.

Martyn still plays club cricket and is currently with Scarcroft CC, just outside Leeds. A few years ago he helped Knaresborough CC reach the North Yorkshire Premier Division alongside fellow ex-England goalie Paul Robinson. St Austell-born Martyn's road to the international fold came off the back of county age-group matches for Cornwall - which necessitate a 800-mile round trip for matches from his Yorkshire home.

Reactions and Expectations

"My good friend Sean Hooper, who was the captain of Cornwall Over-50s, spoke to me about six years ago asking if fancied playing for Cornwall," he said. "We last played when we were together with Cornwall Schools Under-15s. From there Cornwall recommended me to England.

"It's a long trip but being able to go home and see family more often was always the added bonus with it as well. "Knott, Taylor and World Cup dreams Image source, England SeniorsImage caption, Nigel Martyn attended trials at Loughborough University to earn his chance for England's Over-60s sideDespite his prior sporting pedigree Martyn, a wicketkeeper, was not shown any preferential treatment when he attended England Over-60s trials at Loughborough University earlier this year.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.