The Ashes: Damien Martyn tells Australia to solve their own problems

Former Australia batsman Damien Martyn has told the current tourists to pick themselves up in a bid to regain the Ashes.

Australia find themselves 2-0 down in the Ashes in the five-match series ahead of next month's third Test at Old Trafford.

Defeats at Trent Bridge and last week's 347-run thrashing at Lord's have witnessed repeated failures by Australia's top order and Martyn, twice an Ashes-winner before retiring midway through the 2006/07 series, believes his successors must now raise their own game.

"There are no miracles out there to pick ourselves up," said the 41-year-old, who retired with an average of more than 46 in 67 Tests.

"I'd just play the team and then at the end of this Ashes judge them on their performances."

Martyn said personal responsibility was key.

"When I go out to bat, only I can make runs.

"Everyone can tell me everything and coach me. But mentally in a pressure situation you've just got to do it yourself; you've just got to gain the experience."

Australia's batting woes have been summed up by opener Shane Watson, who in 43 Tests has scored just two hundreds.

"He's talented, he's very good," said Martyn, who said Watson's career reminded him of the hold Australia seamer Terry Alderman once had over England opener Graham Gooch.

"He gets out lbw for 50s, 40s, 30s. It's hard to explain. Probably only he could explain it."

"It's a bit like the , Graham Gooch thing. Terry kept picking him off in 1989 -- and he was one of the greats, Gooch.

"Watto at the moment is under pressure.

"Batting long periods is a process of learning under pressure and not getting lazy. He's made heaps of runs; he's made big hundreds. It's now trying to do that in Test cricket.

"That's the mental side he's got to get over."

Australia's defeat at Lord's was tough for Martyn to swallow.

"It was deflating. I don't know it's the worst I've ever seen, but for every former player it's disappointing.

"Maybe the occasion got too much at Lord's. It can always be tough to play it first time.

"I want to see some guys show some fight and mental toughness."

Meanwhile Martyn said England would have to do more than win the Ashes series if they were to stand comparison with the Australia sides he played in.

"We left a legacy, and that's England's thing (now).

"England need to leave a legacy.

"They need to win World Cups; they need to win Champions Trophies -- not just Test series.

"We tried to win Test matches in three days; we tried to break every record you could possibly break, Test match record, one-day records, Champions Trophy.

"We just didn't want to be the number one Test side -- we wanted to conquer all in all formats at the game."