Rod Marsh never quite looked like the right man in the right job, writes Robert Craddock

ROD Marsh started his career as national selection chairman with Australia the No.1 Test nation in the world. He left the post with the entire system buckling under pressure.

Rod Marsh never looked comfortable at the helm.

IT’s often said the best reflection of the job you have done is what sort of shape the place is in when you leave.

Rod Marsh started his career as national selection chairman with Australia the No.1 Test nation in the world.

He left with it in despair following the loss of five Test matches in a row and the entire cricket system buckling under the strain of it all.

Marsh resigned as chairman on Wednesday, ending a controversial reign in which he never quite looked like the right man in the right job.

He left in a hurry, not even bothering to tell fellow selector Mark Waugh.

Players privately felt he was not in touch with the nuances of the modern game.

Marsh may be known for fiercely gruff opinions but too often his resolve and decisiveness melted in the big moments.

Rod Marsh never looked comfortable at the helm.

Sometimes he just plain got it wrong such as the time he dropped Shane Watson during the last World Cup and it was up to selector on duty Mark Waugh to recall Watson for the next game.

Other times he simply could not make a quick, firm decision such as Test matches on the last Ashes tour England in which the Marsh brothers were nervously waiting for a call on their future until just before the toss.

Sometimes he found situations all but unmanageable such as the long running feud he had with Michael Clarke over the captain’s fitness problems.

But, in terms of losing face, nothing quite managed the infamous gaffe at the press conference announcing that fast bowler Jackson Bird had been left out of the Test side to play South Africa in Perth because of his lack of batting ability.

Marsh started his career as a wicket-keeper batsman in the summer of 1968-69 a few months before man landed on the moon.

The impossible-to-fathom Bird comment started jokes that he was now residing on planet Pluto.

Marsh was chairman beyond his 69th birthday and the lesson from his failed tenure is that Australia is unlikely to ever again appoint a chairman so old.

Following the unconvincing chairmanships of Marsh and another veteran West Australian John Inverarity Australia is keen to give the role an injection of youth and gravitas.

Cricket Australia’s board met on Wednesday night to discuss whether to appoint Trevor Hohns or Mark Waugh as interim chairman before a fulltime replacement is found.

It’s an important call. Steve Waugh would be a great snare if he would do it but Australia may not be able to afford him.

Fast bowler Jason Gillespie and former Test batsman Chris Rogers would be sound choices for a role which will need a key eye for talent and a crocodile skin for the tough times which sent Marsh to an early retirement.