Doctors are hopeful that former Australian cricketer Damien Martin can be moved out of the intensive care unit soon.
On Boxing Day, Martin was stricken with meningitis.
The 54-year-old, who played 67 Tests for Australia between 1992 and 2006, was placed in a medically induced coma but is now awake and able to speak to his family.
“The last 48 hours have been an incredible event,” close friend Adam Gilchrist said in a statement on behalf of the Martin family.
“He is now able to speak and respond to treatment. He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma, to the extent that his family feels like something of a miracle.
“They’re hoping he’ll be able to move out of the ICU to another part of the hospital, which reflects how great the recovery is and how quickly things turned around. He’s in good spirits and overwhelmed with support. There’s still some treatment and monitoring to go, but that’s positive.”
“His wife Amanda would like to say that the love, goodwill and care they’ve received from everyone—through the news and the media—has really helped him. They feel blessed by the outpouring of support in his time of need. He will remain in hospital and receive treatment, but the turnaround is nothing short of miraculous.”
Martin was recalled to the national team in 2000 after a six-year absence and became a key figure in Steve Waugh’s dominant Australian team. He was also part of the team that won the 2003 ODI World Cup.