Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia, claiming a then-world record 355 dismissals and becoming the side's first wicketkeeper to score a Test century
Former Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh has died, aged 74, after suffering a heart attack last week.
Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia between 1970 and 1984, claiming a then-world record 355 dismissals.
He remains fourth on the all-time list, behind only South Africa’s Mark Boucher (555) and fellow Australians Adam Gilchrist (416) and Ian Healy (395) while his successful partnership with bowler Dennis Lillee, which yielded 95 dismissals, is yet to be beaten.
Known for his combative batting, Marsh also scored 3,633 runs at 26.51 and was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century, posting 118 against Pakistan in 1972. He went on to score two further centuries against New Zealand (1974) and England (1977).
In white-ball cricket, Marsh made 92 ODI appearances, scoring 1,225 runs and completing 124 dismissals (120 catches, four stumpings).
Marsh in action behind the stumps against England in 1980 [Adrian Murrell/Getty Images]
After retiring from cricket in 1984, he became a commentator in Australia before spending time as a coach and talent-spotter with the Australian Cricket Academy and subsequently, the ECB and ICC world coaching academy in Dubai.
He then served as the Australian chairman of selectors from 2014 to 2016.
Tributes have poured in from across world cricket, with Australian Test captain, Pat Cummins labelling Marsh as "all-time great."
"Rod was a colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave close to 50 years of incredible service to Australian cricket, from his debut in the Ashes series of 1970-71, through to his time as National Selector, when many of the current group of Australian men's players came into close contact with him," Cummins said.
Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate❤️
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 4, 2022
"I, along with countless other people in Australia, grew up hearing the stories of him as a fearless and tough cricketer, but his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over more than a decade made him one of the all-time greats of our sport, not just in Australia, but globally."
Cricket Australia chair, Lachlan Henderson, praised his "enormous" contribution to the game: "This is a tremendously sad day for Australian cricket and for all those who loved and admired Rod Marsh.
"Rod will be forever remembered for the way he played the game and the pleasure he brought crowds as a member of some great Australian teams. 'Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee' has iconic status in our game.
Rod Marsh not on this planet anymore, I am absolutely shattered. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Rod and his amazing skill to know how to get the best out of every young cricketer. He just cared!! My love and thoughts go the Ros and the boys. RIP mate. 😢😢
— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) March 4, 2022
"Rod also made an enormous contribution to the game by identifying, coaching and mentoring many future stars in his various roles as coach and director at cricket academies in Australia and other cricket playing nations."
Australian Cricketers’ Association president Shane Watson and chair Greg Dyer added: "In a very real way, Rod's contribution and more accurately, his wonderful connection, reach through all generations of players before and after his own, all the way to the present group.
"His loss will be deeply felt by them all. Rod's legacy to cricket is profound. He loved cricket, and cricket loved him back in spades."
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Posted by ERROL LEEDS on 05/03/2022 at 11:29
FIRST DEAN JONES, SHANE WARNE ALSO ROD MARSH THREE WONDERFUL CRICKETERS HAVE LEFT US FOR CRICKET FIELDS IN THE SKY ALL R.I.P SADLY MISSED WATCHED ALL THE CRICKET YOU EVER PLAYED BLESS,
Posted by Marce Evans on 05/03/2022 at 04:46
Having been around to see Lillee and Thompson in full flight live I have nothing but admiration for the plight of any keeper who has to field their deliveries. Marsh was quite brilliant on so many occasions and seemed to relish the challenge. He always seemed to enjoy playing the game and was a fierce competitor, a typical Aussie of his time.he may not have been oversensitive to the PC brigade but after he retired became a major player in the rise of the Waugh era where the Aussies dominated world cricket for so many years. In that sense he probably had a better cricketing cv than the much more high profile Warne. He should be celebrated in same breath.
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