Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Former Australian Rules football star Brad Hardie, speaking on Perth’s 6PR radio station, said: “Damien Martyn, the champ from WA [Western Australia] unfortunately took ill on Boxing Day and currently is residing in a Queensland hospital.
“I’d like everybody to have their best wishes and positive thoughts for Marto. Let’s hope he can pull through, because it’s really serious.”
Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann, a former Australia team-mate, wrote on X:, external “Lots of love and prayers…Keep strong and fighting legend.”
During his career, Martyn scored 4,406 Test runs at an average of 46.37.
He was also a prolific one-day international batter, scoring 5,346 runs from 208 matches at an average of 40, with five hundreds and 37 fifties.
He scored an unbeaten 88 as Australia beat India in the 2003 World Cup final despite batting with a broken finger, and represented Yorkshire as an overseas player in 2003.
