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| Full name | Rodney William Marsh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 November 1947 Armadale, Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 4 March 2022 (aged 74) Adelaide, South Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Bacchus, Iron Gloves | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicketkeeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 249) | 27 November 1970 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 6 January 1984 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 7) | 5 January 1971 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 12 February 1984 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968/69–1983/84 | Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source: Cricinfo, 20 November 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rodney William Marsh MBE (4 November 1947 – 4 March 2022)[1] was an Australian professional cricketer who played as a wicketkeeper for the Australian national team. He was a part of the Australian squad which finished as runners-up at the 1975 Cricket World Cup.
Marsh had a Test career spanning from the 1970–71 to the 1983–84 Australian seasons. In 96 Tests, he set a world record of 355 wicketkeeping dismissals, the same number his pace bowling Western Australian teammate Dennis Lillee achieved with the ball. The pair were known for their bowler–wicketkeeper partnership, which yielded 95 Test wickets, a record for any such combination.[2] They made their Test debuts in the same series and retired from Test cricket in the same match. Wisden stated that "Few partnerships between bowler and wicket-keeper have had so profound an impact on the game."[3]
Marsh had a controversial start to his Test career, selected on account of his batting abilities. Sections of the media lampooned Marsh's glovework, dubbing him "Iron Gloves" after sloppy catching in his debut Test. His keeping improved over time and by the end of his career he was regarded as one of the finest in the history of the sport. He was widely regarded for his sense of team discipline, in particular after Bill Lawry controversially declared the Australian first innings closed in the Fifth Test of the 1970–71 series at the MCG with Marsh eight runs short of a century.[4][5] He was known for his athletic keeping.[6] He was nicknamed Australia's marshal due to his ability to uplift the spirit and energy within the Australian side by having some word with opponent batsmen during his playing days which had also influenced a shift in momentum in several occasions where Australia would go on to win matches from precarious situations.[7] He continued to maintain his work ethics when he refused to sign a cricket bat in 2009 which had the signature of former New Zealand cricketer Chris Cairns, with the latter being later found guilty of involving in a spot-fixing scandal.[8]
In 2009, Marsh was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[9]
- ^ Mason, Peter (4 March 2022). "Rod Marsh obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Grover, Sanchit (9 September 2019). "5 most successful bowler-wicketkeeper combinations in Test cricket". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Rodney Marsh". Cricinfo.
- ^ Cricket Archive Scorecard: Australia v England, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 21–26 January 1971.
- ^ Browning, Mark (2003). Rod Marsh: A Life in Cricket. Rosenberg Publishing Pty, Limited. ISBN 978-1-877058-23-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Former Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh passes away". Cricbuzz. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Fontaine, Angus (4 March 2022). "Rod Marsh: baggy green brigadier and keeper of Australian Test cricket culture". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Sapatnekar, Mrunmayi (10 November 2015). "Rod Marsh reveals he had once refused to sign a bat with Chris Cairns' autograph". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ Cricinfo (2 January 2009). "ICC and FICA launch Cricket Hall of Fame". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 July 2019.