Cricket News round-up:Damien Martyn's shock decision to retire has prompted Australia to begin the first stage of their rebuilding programme for their ageing Test line-up.

Martyn's surprise letter to Cricket Australia informing them of his immediate decision to retire from all cricket on the morning they were due to announce a 13-man squad for the third Ashes Test forced the selectors into an immediate rethink.

The answers the selectors provided spoke volumes about the direction they intend to take sooner rather than later by calling up uncapped Western Australia batsman Adam Voges and all-rounder Andrew Symonds as the first stage of the gradual rebuilding programme.

Martyn played 46 Tests during his career, finishing with an average of 46.37 and played 208 one-day internationals for the world champions averaging 40.80.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said: "The decision is obviously something he has thought long and hard about and I know that all of the other members of the team will miss him greatly."

Meanwhile, former England captain Alec Stewart has defended under-fire coach Duncan Fletcher and blamed the players for England's dismal start to this winter's Ashes series. Stewart believes Fletcher has been unfairly made a scapegoat for defeats at Brisbane and Adelaide in the opening two Tests.

Stewart had an ideal opportunity to examine the form of the five players in the squad yet to feature in the Test series when they were included in an ECB Chairman's XI captained by him in the traditional festival match at Lilac Hill. Monty Panesar claimed two for 63 from his 10 overs and took a catch.

Stewart added: I think Monty will play in Perth . . . he's a special bowler."