Damien Martyn in Critical Condition Due to Meningitis
Former Australian Cricketer's Health Crisis
Damien Martyn, a former Australian cricketer with 67 test appearances, is currently in a critical state at a hospital on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, as reported by local media on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old right-handed batsman has been unwell in recent days, with reports indicating he is in an induced coma while battling meningitis.
Darren Lehmann, a former teammate, expressed his support on social media, saying, “Sending lots of love and prayers to @damienmartyn. Stay strong and keep fighting, legend. Best wishes to the family.”
A representative from Gold Coast Health confirmed that Martyn is still in serious condition at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Adam Gilchrist, a close friend and former Australian wicketkeeper, shared with News Corp. that Martyn is receiving excellent medical care, and his partner Amanda, along with his family, appreciates the outpouring of prayers and well-wishes.
Todd Greenberg, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, also conveyed his hopes for Martyn's swift recovery, stating, “I’m deeply saddened to learn about Damien’s illness. The entire CA and cricket community extend their best wishes during this challenging time.”
Martyn was known for his effortless batting style, boasting an impressive average of 46.37 in test matches.
Hailing from Darwin, he made his test debut at the age of 21, stepping in for Dean Jones during the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies, and became the captain of Western Australia at just 23.
His highest score of 165 was achieved against New Zealand in 2005, contributing to his total of 13 test centuries.
Martyn's last test match took place at Adelaide Oval during the 2006-07 Ashes series, after which he transitioned into a commentary role.
In addition to his test career, Martyn played 208 one-day internationals with an average of 40.8. He was part of the Australian teams that clinched the World Cups in 1999 and 2003, notably scoring an unbeaten 88 in the final against India in 2003 while nursing a broken finger, and he was also a member of the victorious 2006 Champions Trophy team.