The 54-year-old Martyn fell ill while lying down last month and was rushed to the hospital. He was diagnosed with meningitis—an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
He was in an induced coma for over a week before he woke up.
“This post is a big thank you to all my family, friends and so many other people who have reached out to me,” said Martyn in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“On the 27th of December 2025 my life was taken out of my hands…when meningitis took over my brain, & unbeknownst to me I was placed into a paralysed coma for 8 days to help me fight this awful disease. And that I did! Fight that is!….
“After being given a 50/50 chance of surviving, I came out of the induced coma 8 days later…not able to walk or talk. And yet 4 days after that, with the doctors in disbelief, I walked, I talked and proved to them all why I should be released from hospital to start my recovery.”
Martyn played 67 Tests, 208 ODIs and four T20Is for Australia between 1992 and 2006.
Known as one of the game’s great stroke-makers, Martyn became a key figure in Steve Waugh’s all-powerful Australian Test side, hitting 13 centuries and averaging 46.37.
He was also part of the Australian team that won the 2003 ODI World Cup, cracking 88 not out in the final against India in a match-winning partnership with Ricky Ponting.
Martyn retired in 2006 during the Ashes series and had kept a low profile since.
Published on Jan 17, 2026
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