Rod Marsh

They came from everywhere for Rodney Marsh's long goodbye. Some of the biggest cricket names of all: Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, Ian Chappell, Allan Border, ...

The Australian cricket great died at 74 in an Adelaide hospital on March 4, just over a week after suffering a heart attack.

A left-handed batter, he was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in test cricket — against Pakistan at Adelaide in 1972 — and finished his career with three. Both finished with 355 dismissals, records at the time for a wicketkeeper and for a fast bowler. Marsh's casket, with purple and white flowers on top, was in front of the podium as a number of speakers came forward during the service. Marsh is survived by his wife, Ros, and sons Paul, Dan and Jamie. Marsh and Lillee made their test debuts in the 1970-71 Ashes series against England and retired after a test against Pakistan in 1984. I've got to say that it hasn't always been that way; it was something that grew over time, even after our careers were finished."

The fast bowler was among friends and family to speak at the service at Adelaide Oval. AAP16-Mar-2022. Story Image. Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell and Dennis ...

"I pinched one of his ankles .... he hit his head on the under-carriage and then shot out from under the car and got back in. "They say younger brothers often walk in the shadow of their older brothers but baby brother, it's been an honour to walk in your shadow." "I read a wonderful tribute to Rod penned by his great friend Ian Chappell, descriptively recounting he had the same problem at first slip, playing for Australia some 20 years later." "[After a day's play he said] 'I've got to tell you, I don't trust you...my old man Ken said never trust anyone that doesn't drink'." But I don't want to talk about his cricketing ability...it's the person Rod Marsh that I loved. But Lillee recalled his own reputation as a non-drinker meant things got off to a rocky start.