In contrast to nearly all the huge names he performed with, cricket nice Damien Martyn went out of his method to keep out of the highlight – till being plunged again into it because of his battle with meningitis.
The 54-year-old veteran of 67 Exams is in an induced coma in a Gold Coast hospital as he’s handled for the lethal an infection in what’s been described as ‘the combat of his life’.
Martyn’s well being drama reportedly started when he felt ailing and went to lie down on Boxing Day, and his dire state of affairs grew to become huge information as greats of the sport rallied round him.
Previous to that, the previous top-order star had separated himself from teammates like Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer by preserving an especially low profile and never chasing commentary roles.
Martyn’s profession as probably the most fashionable batsman in cricket got here to an finish in 2006, when he shocked his teammates and followers by retiring from all types of the sport after simply two Exams of the Ashes sequence.
He instantly gave cricket tragics an indication of issues to return by leaving for Hawaii along with his spouse to be able to escape the massive consideration generated by his announcement.
Damien Martyn (pictured not too long ago) tried to keep away from headlines in his years as probably the most gifted cricketers on the planet
The 54-year-old (pictured enjoying for Australia in 2006) as soon as mentioned ‘Once I retire I will not be hanging round’ – and he is been true to his phrase
Martyn’s telephones have been disconnected as he pulled off what was described as ‘the best vanishing act within the historical past of Australian sport’ by the Sydney Morning Herald.
The publication reported that his finest mate, Ponting, could not get involved with him and that Martyn had stored all his teammates at midnight about his life-changing determination to completely put his dishevelled inexperienced cap away.
It was reported that the West Australian had selected retirement in 2004 when he was reprimanded for flipping the center finger at a TV cameraman exterior the staff resort.
However Martyn’s behavior of shunning the limelight began lengthy earlier than he starred in a few of the best Take a look at groups within the sport’s historical past.
‘I by no means appreciated being the centre of consideration,’ he defined shortly earlier than quitting the game.
‘As a child I used to be referred to as the glamour boy and all that, and a part of me appreciated it.
‘However deep down I would relatively not be seen by anybody.
‘Once I retire I will not be hanging round. You will not see me for mud.’
In contrast to a lot of his well-known teammates, Martyn (pictured backside row, second from proper in 2001) by no means chased high-profile roles after he left the sport
The West Australian is at present in a coma as he battles meningitis in a Gold Coast hospital
That need to keep away from the limelight meant Martyn was effectively suited to enjoying in a staff with so many different enormous names in it.
‘I believe in our facet we have plenty of champion superstars, and it would not actually hassle me that I do not get the eye that somebody like Ponting or Warne will get,’ he mentioned.
‘Individuals like me and Justin Langer are the quieter ones, the backroom boys, and never at all times within the media – which is usually a good factor.’
As soon as he obtained out of the sport, Martyn mentioned he was ‘going from odd job to odd job’ as he dipped his toes into media work with out ever actually chasing it.
‘I believe it was as a result of I used to be quiet, I by no means chased the media, so I used to be seen as a loner,’ he mentioned in 2012.
‘However I used to be pleased for others to have the limelight.’
Since Martyn’s meningitis battle grew to become public, a raft of cricket stars have despatched him messages of assist.
Adam Gilchrist made an announcement on behalf of Martyn’s household, and his former teammate turned Australia Take a look at coach Darren Lehmann despatched him ‘plenty of love and prayers’.
England greats Darren Gough and Michael Vaughan, South Africa’s Dale Steyn, and India’s VVS Laxman and Ravi Ashwin have all urged Martyn to combat on.
