Cricket folklore abounds in tales of the hapless number elevens whose arrival at the crease signals the end of the innings is nigh.
The classic example is England leg-spinner Eric Hollies, the man who famously bowled Don Bradman in his last test for a duck. Hollies retired with more first class wickets than runs.
More recently New Zealander Danny Morrison (test average 8.42 and a then world record 24 ducks) and Jamaican Courtney Walsh (7.54 with a record 43 ducks), stand out.
But even by their standards New Zealand's Chris Martin is something special.
Martin averages just 2.55 from 40 tests with a highest score of 12 not out. The announcement that he is the final batsman in inspires predictable mirth from spectators who would not themselves ever contemplate facing international fast bowling.
At a news conference before Thursday's first test against England at Lord's, Martin revealed that he had bruises all over his body after the Kiwis' final warm-up match.
"That's woken me up to the fact that it's important that I start to get bat in front of ball instead of body," he said.
The problem, Martin explained, was not vision but coordination.
"Relaying the message from what I see to my hands and my feet has always been a bit of a problem," he said. "I can smoke a golf ball but it's not moving.
"There's a slight mental block there as well. I know when I was younger I wasn't as handicapped as I am now but I also understand that playing at this level there's not a lot of room to move if you've got limited ability."
The modern game in all its forms demands all-round skills and, although Martin is not in the Hollies' class, his one-day career has been restricted by his lack of ability with the bat.
Martin said he was working on his batting but confessed that his international ambitions remain realistic.
"Double figures has always been pretty good at this level," he said.
