Damien Martyn Awake and Talking After Meningitis Battle

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn is awake, talking and showing encouraging signs of recovery after being placed in an induced coma while battling meningitis.

The former Test batsman, 54, was hospitalised late last month in Queensland after becoming seriously ill with the infection, which causes inflammation around the brain.

More than a week later, close friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist confirmed Martyn had made a remarkable improvement, describing the past two days as extraordinary.

"It's been an unbelievable turn of events in the last 48 hours," Gilchrist said.
"He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma, to the point where his family feels it's nothing short of a miracle."

While Martyn remains in hospital and under close medical supervision, doctors are optimistic he may soon be transferred out of intensive care.

A prodigiously talented teenager from Western Australia, Martyn made his international debut at just 21 and went on to score almost 10,000 runs across 67 Tests, along with more than 200 one-day internationals for Australia.

News of his sudden illness prompted an outpouring of support from former teammates, fans and the broader cricketing community.

Gilchrist said Martyn's wife, Amanda, was deeply moved by the response.
"She's convinced the love, goodwill and care they felt through messages and media coverage genuinely helped him," he said.
"They feel incredibly blessed by the support shown during such a frightening time."

Martyn's family later released a statement confirming he was continuing to progress well and thanking the medical staff at Gold Coast University Hospital for their care.

"We are immensely grateful to the medical team, who have been nothing short of amazing throughout this challenging period," the statement said.

The family has asked for privacy as Martyn continues his recovery. The hospital is expected to issue a further update tomorrow.