Australian Cricket Legend Rod Marsh Dies at 74

Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh with Derek Randall (right) of England during a one-day international in Melbourne, on Jan. 1980. Adrian Murrell/Getty Images

Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh has died aged 74 after suffering a heart attack.

The star wicketkeeper from the 1970s and 80s was flown from Bundaberg to Adelaide Hospital earlier in the week after suffering a heart attack last Thursday, Fox Cricket reported.

He remained in an induced coma until passing away on Friday morning.

Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia in a career that spanned 14 years (1970 - 1984).

His years playing for Australia paralleled those of legendary bowler Dennis Lillee, and “caught Marsh, bowled Lillee” became a common sight on match scorecards.

With 95 Test wickets, no duo in cricket history has combined to send more batsmen back to the Pavillion than those two.

When Marsh retired in 1984, he had collected a total of 355 Test wickets, a world record at the time.

Marsh was also devastating with the bat and was the first wicketkeeper to score a Test century.

Not one to play for safety, but rather seek the boundary, he was very handy when quick runs were needed in limited-overs matches.

During a 1980-81 one day match against New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval, Marsh scored 26 runs from the final over, with three sixes and two fours.

Cricketer Rod Marsh hits a four for Australia during the 5th Test at Old Trafford, August 1981. Photo by Adrian Murrell/Getty Images

After retiring, Marsh remained in the cricket fraternity, holding commentating, coaching, and administration positions in Australia and England.

Marsh had two stints as a commentator for Channel Nine’s Test match coverage from 1986 to 1990, and 1996 to 1998.

He also became a coach and eventually director at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide between 1990 and 2001, where he fostered young talents such as Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, and Glen McGrath.

Later moving to England, Marsh became the director of the national academy there, after which he became a selector, playing an important role in England reclaiming the ashes in 2005.

Marsh was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mark Waugh, another legend of the sport who represented Australia between 1991 and 2002, said via Twitter on Friday that Marsh was an icon of Australian cricket.

“Had the pleasure of working with Rod for a number of years as a selector and you wouldn’t meet a more honest, down to earth, kind hearted person. RIP,” he said.

Marsh is survived by his wife Ros and children Daniel, Paul, and Jamie.