SYDENY: Former Australian Test cricketer Damien Martyn has been placed in an induced coma following a diagnosis of meningitis.
The 54-year-old suddenly fell ill on Friday and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Queensland.
Martyn represented Australia in 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006. He participated in four Ashes series and announced his sudden retirement from cricket just before the third Test in 2006.
He was also part of the Australian teams that won two World Cups.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Todd Greenberg expressed deep sadness upon hearing the news of Martyn’s illness and extended best wishes for his speedy recovery.
Martyn’s close friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist confirmed on behalf of the family that Damien is receiving the best possible medical care.
It is hoped that he can be brought out of the coma in the coming days.
During his cricket career, Martyn scored 4,406 runs in Test cricket at an average of 46.37.
In One-Day Internationals, he played 208 matches, accumulating 5,346 runs at an average of 40, including five centuries and 37 half-centuries.
In the 2003 World Cup final against India, he played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 88 despite a broken finger, helping Australia secure victory.
That same year, he also played as an overseas player for Yorkshire.
