5 months ago
Former Australia Test cricketer Damien Martyn is showing “positive signs” while successful an induced coma aft being diagnosed pinch meningitis, according to friend and erstwhile teammate Adam Gilchrist.
Martyn was admitted to Gold Coast infirmary aft falling sick connected Boxing Day, wherever he remains successful a superior but unchangeable condition. Meningitis is inflammation of nan membranes that screen nan encephalon and spinal cord.
Speaking connected Fox Sports’ Big Bash League broadcast connected Thursday, Gilchrist said Martyn’s family were grateful for nan outpouring of support that followed nan news connected Wednesday.
“Thank you everyone for nan heartfelt emotion and wishes and attraction for Damien arsenic he goes done a challenging time,” Gilchrist said connected their behalf.
“He’s still successful hospital. There’ll beryllium much specifications coming retired arsenic they travel to manus but surely successful nan past 24 hours, immoderate affirmative signs are nan indications coming retired of nan various tests he’s having.”
“There’s been truthful overmuch liking and emotion for Damien. A good player, terrific fella. I conscionable dream he tin proceed his recovery.’’
Born successful Darwin, nan right-hander earned a Test debut astatine 21 replacing nan precocious Dean Jones successful nan 1992-93 location bid against West Indies and was Western Australia’s skipper astatine 23.
He was subordinate of nan bid nan past clip Australia won an distant bid successful India, top-scoring successful 4 of Australia’s 8 innings astatine nan crease successful nan 2004 conflict for nan Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Sending spot and prayers to my beloved friend @damienmartyn and his family. Wishing him a afloat and speedy recovery. The full cricket world stands pinch you Matto during this reliable time🤗🤗
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 31, 2025Gilchrist said Martyn played immoderate of his champion cricket overseas, overcoming nan situation of being distant from location and retired of your comfortableness zone.
“We each knew nan accomplishment and talent that he had and displayed, but it’s erstwhile you talk to guidance teams … The respect pinch which guidance teams speak astir him and his talent and his quality, that’s wherever it rings true,” he said.
“Sometimes nan Australian cricket assemblage mightiness not afloat admit ‘Marto’ because a batch of his activity was done successful nan precocious hours successful Australia erstwhile everyone was dormant and we were playing connected overseas shores.”
Martyn is considered 1 of Australia’s most elegant batters, playing 67 Tests and scoring 4,406 Test runs for an mean of 46.37 betwixt 1992 and 2006.
He besides played 208 ODIs and his unbeaten 88 successful nan 2003 World Cup last – pinch a surgery digit – helped Australia unafraid triumph complete India.
