Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has been placed into an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis.
The 54-year-old, who played 67 Test matches between 1992 and 2006, reportedly fell ill on 26 December and is in a hospital in Queensland.
Martyn played in four Ashes series and won two World Cups with Australia, retiring before the third Test of the 2006-07 series.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg expressed his sadness regarding Martyn's illness, affirming that the best wishes from everyone at Cricket Australia and the wider cricket community are with him during this challenging time.
Adam Gilchrist, a close friend and former team-mate, confirmed that Martyn is receiving good treatment in hospital and that his partner Amanda and family appreciate the outpouring of support and prayers for his recovery.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that there are hopes for Martyn to be brought out of his coma in the coming days.
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Brad Hardie, former Australian Rules football star, emphasized the severity of Martyn's condition while urging everyone to send positive thoughts his way.
During his illustrious cricket career, Martyn scored 4,406 Test runs and 5,346 runs in ODIs, including key performances such as his unbeaten 88 runs during the 2003 World Cup final against India.
