![Damien Martyn with Ricky Ponting [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1767157923169_DamienMartyncoma(1).jpg?type=hq)
Damien Martyn with Ricky Ponting [Source: AFP]
Ex-Australian cricketer Damien Martyn is fighting for his life after being put into an induced coma and receiving treatment for meningitis at a Brisbane hospital. The heartbreaking situation has spread fear and worry as fans, former teammates, and officials are offering prayers and support for the 54-year-old.
According to reports, Damien Martyn was taken ill on December 26 and was rushed to the hospital when his health deteriorated rapidly.
His doctors said that he had meningitis, a serious and possibly fatal disease that causes inflammation of protective membranes covering the spinal cord and brain.
Damien Martyn remains an induced coma to combat meningitis
Due to the severity of his condition, doctors placed Damien Martyn in an induced coma to help his body fight the infection.
Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, one of Martyn’s closest friends and long-time teammates, shared an update on behalf of the family.
He confirmed that Martyn is receiving the best possible medical care and that his partner, Amanda, and family are overwhelmed by the love and prayers pouring in from across the world.
"He is getting the best of treatment and (Martyn's partner) Amanda and his family know that a lot of people are sending their prayers and best wishes," Gilchrist said in a statement.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg also expressed his concern, saying the entire cricket community is thinking of Martyn and wishing him a full and speedy recovery during this difficult time.
"I'm saddened to hear of Damien's illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and across the cricket community are with him at this time," Greenberg said in a statement.
Martyn’s remarkable career for Australia
Damien Martyn is remembered as one of Australia’s most elegant and reliable batters during their golden era from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s.
He featured in 67 Tests and 208 ODIs for Australia. Moreover, Martyn was part of two World Cup-winning teams in 1999 and 2003 and played one of the most memorable innings in World Cup history, an unbeaten 88 against India in the 2003 final, alongside Ricky Ponting’s famous century.
Damien Martyn also starred in Australia’s Champions Trophy win in 2006 and finished as the leading run-scorer in the historic Test series victory in India in 2004.
By the time he retired, Martyn had scored over 4,400 Test runs at an average above 46 and more than 5,300 ODI runs.
