Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh passes away following heart attack

Tributes are pouring in for Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh, who has been described as a “colossal” figure in the game after his death at the age of 74.

Test captain Pat Cummins has hailed Rod Marsh as a “colossal” figure of cricket as the Australian and worldwide sporting community come to grips with the legendary former wicketkeeper’s death aged 74.

Marsh passed away surrounded by family in an Adelaide hospital at 6am on Friday morning, after suffering a heart attack in Bundaberg last Thursday.

Tributes flowed in from around the world as the sporting community extended their condolences for the passing of a man seen as an “icon” of the sport.

The current Test team awoke this morning in Rawalpindi to the news of Marsh’s passing as they prepared for day one of the historic first Test against Pakistan.

“Rod was a colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave close to 50 years of incredible service to Australian cricket, from his debut in the Ashes series of 1970/71, through to his time as National Selector, when many of the current group of Australian men’s players came into close contact with him,” Cummins said.

“He was brilliant to deal with because he knew the game inside-out, but also had a way of dealing with you to put you at your ease.

Vale Rodney Marsh…love to Ros and the boys…saddest of days…outstanding service to Australian cricket…great team mate…mention of his name makes me smile…brilliant dig 👏👏👏👏👏👏

— Kerry O'Keeffe (@kokeeffe49) March 3, 2022

“I, along with countless other people in Australia, grew up hearing the stories of him as a fearless and tough cricketer, but his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over more than a decade made him one of the all-time greats of our sport, not just in Australia, but globally.

“When I think of Rod I think of a generous and larger-than-life character who always had a life-loving, positive and relaxed outlook, and his passing leaves a massive void in the Australian cricket community.

“My thoughts, and the thoughts of the entire tour party here in Pakistan, are with Rod’s wife Ros and their family at this terrible time.”

Rod Marsh is regarded as one of Aussie cricket’s all-time greats.

Cricket Australia chairman Dr Lachlan Henderson said Marsh had made an enormous impact on the game.

“This is a tremendously sad day for Australian cricket and for all those who loved and admired Rod Marsh,” Henderson said.

“Rod will be forever remembered for the way he played the game and the pleasure he brought crowds as a member of some great Australian teams. ‘Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee’ has iconic status in our game.

“Rod also made an enormous contribution to the game by identifying, coaching and mentoring many future stars in his various roles as coach and director at cricket academies in Australia and other cricket playing nations.

“Our thoughts are with Rod’s wife Ros, his sons Paul, Dan and Jamie and the extended Marsh family, his many friends and teammates with whom he created so many special memories.”

Marsh at the stumps with then-Aussie skipper Kim Hughes.

Rod Marsh chats to fellow keeping great Ian Healy.

Marsh was 74 and will be remembered as an icon of the game, having played 96 Tests for Australia between 1970 and 1984 as one of the greatest wicket-keepers of all time.

The caught Marsh bowled Lillee combination was the most famous double-act in cricket.

Marsh had been in an induced coma after a couple of Queensland cricket locals revived him last week several minutes after he’d suffered a heart attack.

After his playing career, Marsh continued to serve the game in many capacities, most recently as a national selector, and his cricket academy helped nurture dozens of Test players including Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer.

Mark Waugh, who served as a selector alongside Marsh, was among the first to express his sincere condolences for the “icon”.

“So incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Rod (Bacchus) Marsh an absolute icon of Aust cricket,” Waugh wrote on Twitter.

“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.”

Marsh helped start the careers of many champions in his role at the cricket academy.

Greg Chappell described Marsh as “one of the best”.

“We have lost another one and one of the best of the lot,’’ Greg Chappell told News Corp.

“Rod’s honesty was his core value. He just couldn’t tell you a lie. He told you what you needed to hear and not what you wanted to hear. He would hit you between the eyes with it. He was our spiritual leader in many ways.

“As a team-mate and a captain I really appreciated that. That is what endeared him to people. The messages of support are coming from all around the world.

“It is a life to be celebrated and not be mourned. I go back to playing him in the 1961 schoolboys carnival in Brisbane when he was a chunky 13-year-old who loved a yap.’’

Australia’s women’s wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy received the news in New Zealand, where she is preparing for Saturday’s opening match of the ODI World Cup against England.

“Oh man. Sad day. Sending all my love to the whole Marsh family xx,” Healy wrote on social media.

The Marsh family released a statement on Friday morning, paying tribute to an “incredible husband, father and grandfather.”

“On behalf of my mother Ros and brothers Dan and Jamie, it is with immense sadness that I advise that my father Rod passed away peacefully early this morning,” Paul Marsh said in a statement on behalf of the family.

“He has been an incredible husband, father and grandfather and we have been so fortunate to have had him in all of our lives.

“We are so grateful for all of the love and support our family has received from so many people over the last week. It has given us strength in the most difficult week of our lives.

“Details for the funeral will be advised in due course.”

Originally published as Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh passes away following heart attack