Former Australia cricketer and Test great Damien Martyn has woken from an induced coma on Sunday after being hospitalised for more than a week with meningitis.

Martyn, 54, was admitted to Gold Coast University Hospital on December 27 after falling seriously ill and was subsequently placed in an induced coma. His recovery was confirmed by former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who said the former batter is now “able to talk and respond to the treatment”.

A highly respected figure in Australian cricket, Martyn represented his country in 67 Tests, 208 One-Day Internationals and four T20 Internationals between 1992 and 2006. He is widely regarded as one of the finest finishers the game has produced in the limited-overs format.

Earlier, Martyn’s partner Amanda issued a statement thanking the medical staff and supporters, while requesting privacy for the family during a difficult period.

Also read: Veteran Australian cricketer Damien Martyn hospitalised

“Damien is progressing well with his medical treatment. We also want to express our deepest appreciation to the medical team at Gold Coast University Hospital, who have been nothing short of amazing throughout this challenging time. This has been a trying time, and the family ask that you respect their privacy,” she said.

Messages of support have poured in from across the cricketing world. Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann posted a message on social media after news of Martyn’s illness emerged.

“Lots of love and prayers sending Damien Martyn’s way. Keep strong and fighting legend,” Lehmann wrote on X.

Renowned for his elegant stroke play, Martyn scored 4,406 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 46.37, including 13 centuries. In ODIs, he amassed 5,346 runs from 208 matches at an average of 40.80, with five hundreds and 37 half-centuries.

One of the defining moments of his career came during the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, where he was named Player of the Series after topping the scoring charts in four of Australia’s eight innings, playing a key role in the team’s historic series victory.