Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has been placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, Australian media reported on Tuesday.
The 54-year-old, who played 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006, fell ill on Friday and was taken to hospital, where he is receiving treatment. His condition is being closely monitored.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, a close friend and former teammate, said on behalf of Martyn’s family that he was receiving the best possible care.
“He is getting the best of treatment and Amanda and his family are aware that many people are sending their prayers and best wishes,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that doctors were hopeful Martyn could be brought out of the induced coma in the coming days.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the organisation and the wider cricket community were thinking of Martyn and his family.
“I’m saddened to hear of Damien’s illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time,” Greenberg said.
Martyn was a key member of Australia’s dominant teams in the early 2000s and was named player of the series the last time Australia won a Test series in India, during the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He played his final Test in Australia’s victory at Adelaide in the 2006–07 Ashes before retiring abruptly ahead of the third Test of the series, which Australia went on to win 5–0.
Martyn scored 4,406 Test runs at an average of 46.37 and amassed 5,346 runs in 208 one-day internationals at 40.90. He was part of Australia’s 2003 World Cup-winning side and made an unbeaten 88 in the final against India.
(IANS)
