Former Australia wicketkeeper and England selector Rod Marsh dies aged 74

Former Australia wicketkeeper and England selector Rod Marsh has died on the age of 74.

Marsh had been in a essential situation after struggling a coronary heart assault in Bundaberg, Queensland, final week, and died in South Australia’s capital Adelaide on Friday morning native time.

Marsh made 96 Take a look at appearances for Australia and ended his profession with a then-record 355 dismissals.

He made an extra 92 appearances in white-ball cricket for his nation in a global profession that lasted from 1970 to 1984.

The information was confirmed by Marsh’s son Paul, who mentioned in an announcement: “On behalf of my mom Ros and brothers Dan and Jamie, it’s with immense disappointment that I counsel that my father Rod handed away peacefully early this morning.

“He has been an unbelievable husband, father and grandfather and now we have been so lucky to have had him in all our lives.”

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins led a refrain of tributes to Marsh, calling him a “colossal determine in Australian cricket”.

He mentioned in an announcement launched by Cricket Australia (CA): “I, together with numerous different folks in Australia, grew up listening to the tales of him as a fearless and difficult cricketer, however his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over greater than a decade made him one of many all-time greats of our sport, not simply in Australia, however globally.

“After I consider Rod, I consider a beneficiant and larger-than-life character who at all times had a life-loving, optimistic and relaxed outlook, and his passing leaves an enormous void within the Australian cricket neighborhood.”

Worldwide Cricket Coucil (ICC) chief government Geoff Allardice known as Marsh a “true legend of the sport”.

““However his legacy has gone means past what he achieved on the sector,” Allardice mentioned.

“An ICC Corridor of Fame inductee in 2009, he performed a major position in growing younger cricketers all around the globe, together with by way of his time because the inaugural director of teaching on the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai, a facility that future generations of gamers from all international locations will proceed to learn from. He might be sorely missed and the ideas of everybody on the ICC are along with his household and buddies.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison known as Marsh a “fierce competitor and a wonderful sportsman”.

He wrote on Twitter: “Very unhappy to listen to of the passing of Rod Marsh. As a child he was my favorite participant. He was a part of one of the crucial thrilling eras in Australian and world cricket. He might be remembered as one in every of Australia’s biggest ever Take a look at cricket gamers.

“He was a fierce competitor and a wonderful sportsman who valued what the sport stood for. Rod Marsh was a proud Western Australian and an absolute Aussie legend. My deepest sympathies go to his spouse Ros and kids Paul, Dan and Jamie.”

CA chairman Dr Lachlan Henderson mentioned: “This can be a tremendously unhappy day for Australian cricket and for all those that liked and admired Rod Marsh.

“Rod might be endlessly remembered for the best way he performed the sport and the pleasure he introduced crowds as a member of some nice Australian groups. ‘Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee’ has iconic standing in our sport.

“Rod additionally made an infinite contribution to the sport by figuring out, teaching and mentoring many future stars in his varied roles as coach and director at cricket academies in Australia and different cricket enjoying nations.

“Our ideas are with Rod’s spouse Ros, his sons Paul, Dan and Jamie and the prolonged Marsh household, his many buddies and teammates with whom he created so many particular recollections.”

Marylebone Cricket Membership (MCC), which owns Lord’s, mentioned in an announcement on Twitter: “MCC is deeply saddened to study of the loss of life of Honorary Life Member and former World Cricket committee member, Rod Marsh.

“Our ideas are along with his family and friends.”

Marsh’s ultimate Take a look at got here towards Pakistan in Sydney in January 1984, the identical match by which Greg Chappell and Dennis Lillee additionally bowed out – with the by then acquainted chorus of “caught Marsh, bowled Lillee” showing on the scorecard for the ninety fifth and ultimate time.

Born within the suburbs of Perth in November 1947, Marsh was the youthful brother of Graham Marsh, who turned an expert golfer and claimed 10 victories on the European Tour.

That they had each represented Western Australia in schoolboy cricket, however Rodney rose by way of the ranks to make his first-class debut with WA towards the touring West Indies in 1968.

His worldwide profession had began inauspiciously – he was given the nickname ‘Iron Gloves’ after dropping a sequence of catches through the 1970-71 Ashes sequence.

However Marsh had earned choice on the idea of his batting, and he turned the primary wicketkeeper to make a century for Australia with 118 towards Pakistan in Adelaide in 1972, whereas his glovework improved shortly too.

In all, he scored 3,633 runs with three centuries and 16 fifties whereas taking 343 catches and 12 stumpings in 96 Assessments.

After a spell in commentary, Marsh turned head coach of the Australian Cricket Academy within the Nineteen Nineties, serving to develop the likes of Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

However he was lured to England in 2001, first as head of the nationwide academy after which additionally as an England selector from 2003 to 2005 – serving to safe the well-known Ashes victory of 2005 towards these nice abilities he had nurtured for his homeland.