Former Australian Test Cricketer Damien Martyn in Induced Coma After Meningitis Diagnosis
Damien Martyn, the former Australian Test cricketer, was admitted to hospital in Queensland on Boxing Day and placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, a serious inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The 54-year-old's condition is described as serious.
Martyn's former teammates and cricket officials have expressed their support. Darren Lehmann urged Martyn to stay strong via X, Adam Gilchrist issued a statement on behalf of the Martyn family, and Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg extended best wishes.
Martyn played 67 Tests for Australia from 1992 to 2006, scoring 4,406 runs at an average of 46.37. Born in Darwin, he became Western Australia captain at 23 and made his Test debut during the 1992-93 home series against the West Indies. Among his notable achievements were an unbeaten 101 against England in 2003, being Player of the Series in Australia’s last away series win in India, and top-scoring in four of eight innings in the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
He also contributed an unbeaten 88 in the 2003 World Cup final despite playing with a broken finger, helping Australia defeat India. Martyn retired during the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia; an amendment clarified that his retirement occurred then, not during the 2005-06 series in England. On Christmas Eve, Martyn was active on social media commenting on the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes series.
