Fears for Martyn after former Test star hospitalised with mystery illness

Former Australia batter Damien Martyn has been hospitalised after he fell ill on Boxing Day in Brisbane.

The 54-year-old remains in a serious condition, according to a NewsCorp report, with former Brisbane AFL star Brad Hardie sending “thoughts and prayers” via his 6PR radio program on Tuesday night.

“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 on his Perth show.

“I’d like everybody to certainly have their best wishes and positive thoughts for Marto. God give him strength.

“Let’s hope he can pull through because it’s really serious.”

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The nature of his illness has not been made public.

Martyn is considered one of the finest batters of his generation with a silky smooth technique which brought him 4406 runs in 67 Tests as well as 5346 in 208 ODIs for Australia.

Considered a prodigy as a teenager, he made his Test debut in the memorable 1992-93 series against the West Indies and after being dropped the following summer after a careless shot in the narrow SCG loss to South Africa, he spent several years in the wilderness.

After re-establishing himself in the team on the tour to New Zealand in early 2000, he became an integral part of one of Australia’s most successful eras before he retired midway through the 2006-07 Ashes series after the spectacular win over England in Adelaide which clinched the urn.

Damien Martyn (second from left) with Brad Hodge, Michael Clarke, Darren Lehmann, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist after their team’s victory over India in the third Test at Nagpur in  2004. (AP Photo/Aman

In one-day cricket, he was a key part of the 2003 World Cup-winning squad, smashing an unbeaten 88 in the final win over India in Johannesburg while combining with Ricky Ponting (140 not out) in a match-winning partnership of 234.

After retiring, Martyn has kept a low profile apart from brief stints in the media as an analyst.

Martyn, who lives on the Gold Coast, regularly posts on social media and put up a couple of videos of himself looking fit and healthy previewing the third Test in Adelaide.

He has also appeared on the Crispy Chats podcast recently with co-hosts Gareth Philpott and Jase Alpen, commenting on the Ashes series.

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