Mystery as Aussie cricket great Damien Martyn rushed to hospital

by · Mail Online

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn has reportedly been rushed to hospital and remains in a ‘serious condition' after falling ill on Boxing Day.

The Herald Sun reports that the 54-year-old, who lives in Brisbane, became ill after he went to lie down last Friday.

AFL legend Brad Hardie sent his ‘thoughts and prayers’ to Martyn and his family during his late-night radio broadcast on 6PR on Tuesday.

'Damien Martyn, the champ from WA, fantastic batsman ... unfortunately took ill on Boxing Day and is currently residing in a Queensland hospital and he is in for the fight of his life,' Hardie said.

'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.' 

Australian cricket great Damien Martyn (pictured left with Merv Hughes) has reportedly been rushed to hospital and remains in a serious condition after falling ill on Boxing Day
The 54-year-old, who lives in Brisbane, became reportedly became ill after he went to lie down on Boxing Day
As a top-order batsman, many of Martyn’s colleagues revered Martyns' brilliant skill and ability to score runs

The nature of Martyn's illness has not been revealed.

It comes as Martyn had taken to X on Christmas Eve to share his excitement about Australia’s fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.

‘If the old brigade could play again, then this would be it,’ he wrote, adding a picture of the MCG.

‘Boxing Day test match. What a cauldron.’

As a top-order batsman, many of Martyn’s colleagues revered his brilliant skill and ability to score runs.

Martyn captained Australia at U19 level, before going on to make his Test debut in 1992.

During his career, Martyn, who played First Class cricket for Western Australia, scored 4,406 runs across 67 Test matches.

Martyn also enjoyed spells in England's County Championship with Leicestershire and Yorkshire. 

He was also drafted to play for the Rajasthan Royals during the 2010 IPL season. 

Martyn notably shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in the middle of the 2006-07 Ashes at the age of 35.

The Western Australia star had been in the running to start in the third Test in Perth, but stated that it was his 'time to move aside'. 

After his career, he would enjoy several cameos in the media, featuring in a variety of television broadcasts and podcasts to offer up his views on cricket.