Last Updated on 4 months ago by Charbel Coorey
Former Australia batsman Damien Martyn fell ill on Boxing Day and is now in a serious condition in hospital. That is according to 1985 AFL Brownlow Medallist and radio host Brad Hardie, who provided an update on Perth’s 6PR radio.
“Damien Martyn, the champ from WA, fantastic batsman … unfortunately took ill on Boxing Day and currently is residing in a Queensland hospital and he is in for the fight of his life,” Hardie said, as quoted by Fox Sports.
“Hope Damien Martyn can pull through because it’s really serious”
Sydney Morning Herald reports that Martyn is in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis. The condition can lead to swelling of the brain due to inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord.
“I’d like everybody to certainly have their best wishes and positive thoughts for Marto. God give him strength,” Hardie said.
“Let’s hope he can pull through because it’s really serious.”
The Darwin-born Martyn grew up in Perth and turned out to be one of Australia’s finest and most stylish players of the modern era. He played 67 Tests, scoring 4,406 runs at an average of 46.37.
His performance in Australia’s successful tour of India in 2004 was one of the highlights of a fruitful career. He scored 444 runs at an average of 55.50 with two fifties and two hundreds, with his technique and timing against spin a strong feature of his fine series.
Martyn also played 208 ODIs that yielded 5,346 runs at an average of 40.80. He famously played the 2003 World Cup Final against India with a broken finger and combined with Ricky Ponting (140*) for an unbroken 234-run stand that formed the cornerstone of Australia’s second consecutive World Cup triumph.
Martyn himself scored 88* off 84 balls that day in Johannesburg and was ahead of Ponting at times throughout the innings as the Australian captain settled in.
Former Australia Test player Rodney Hogg was among the many to send his well wishes.
“We wish him all the best. That’s shocking news,” he said.
