Rod Marsh, who played 96 Test matches for Australia between 1970 and 1984, died in an Adelaide hospital on Friday, according to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Rod Marsh, an Australian cricket legend and wicketkeeper who developed a successful wicket-taking partnership with pace bowler Dennis Lillee, died a week after having a heart attack while attending a fundraising event in Queensland. He was 74 years old at the time.
Marsh, who played 96 Test matches for Australia between 1970 and 1984, died in an Adelaide hospital on Friday, according to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Marsh had a Test record of 355 wicketkeeper dismissals, including 95 off Lillee’s bowling. Before retiring from first-class cricket, he also played 92 One-Day Internationals for Australia.in February 1984.
He was the first Australian wicketkeeper to make a century in test cricket, and he had three by the end of his career. He later served as the founding head of the International Cricket Council’s world coaching academy in Dubai, as well as leading national cricket academies in Australia and England.
Shane Warne, the legendary Australian leg-spinner, led the tributes to Marsh on social media. “I was saddened to learn of Rod Marsh’s death. He was a legend in our great sport and a role model for so many young boys and girls. Rod was passionate about cricket and generous with his time and resources, particularly to Australian and English players. Ros and her family have my heartfelt condolences. “Rest in peace, mate,” Warne wrote.
He was named as Australia’s chairman of selectors in 2014 and served in that capacity for two years. In 1985, he was inducted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame. Marsh was tactical, spoke without fear, and recognized the talents of young cricketers, according to John Bertrand, chairman of the hall of fame.
“Marsh nabbed pickpockets, and the phrase ‘caught Marsh, bowled Lillee’ became folklore,” Bertrand explained. “He changed the course of history.” Everyone he played with and against admired him.”