Rodney MARSH

"Old Iron Gloves" they called Rod Marsh in his first Test series against Ray Illingworth's England team in 1970-71. He put down so many catches that few could understand why he was still in the team by the end of the series. He was a surprise choice. New South Welshmen Brian Taber had waited patiently to inherit the wicket-keeping gloves on the retirement of Barry Jarman and had kept well on Bill Lawry's long trek through India and South Africa the previous season. It was probably the failure of Australia's batsmen in South Africa which cleared the way for Marsh, who had made a century against West Indies on his debut for Western Australia. In that regard he did his job. He scored 44 in Perth, and 92 not out in the fifth Test in Melbourne. Those close to the team realised, too, that this was a cricketer of passion and a man dearly wishing to put one over on "The Poms".

He was a soul mate of Ian Chappell, who inherited the Australian captaincy before the end of the series, and of Dennis Lillee, who also emerged in the last two Tests. The immortal line "caught Marsh bowled Lillee" first appeared in a Test on the old Sydney scoreboard against the name of John Hampshire. Marsh played in the first ever ODI and scored 77 not out against the Rest of the World in Sydney as well as 46 in an unofficial ODI in Perth. By the England tour of 1972 Rodney's keeping had improved beyond all recognition, he pouched 21 catches during the series plus a couple of stumpings for good measure. In a 1974-75 Ashes series he contributed a series of 40s and opened in one Test in 1975. In the first World Cup he scored 52 against West Indies at the Oval. (Bob Harragan)

No wicket-keeper in history had ever to face up to a bowler as fast as Jeff Thomson and it could equally be argued that none had ever had to dive so far and so fast. The requirements against the pacemen now included the sort of skills demanded of a soccer goalkeeper. As he aged Marsh seemed to become even more agile. The other Aussie greats of the Chappell era were beginning to show signs of wear and tear by the late 1970s, but the wicket-keeper was striding on to greater heights. In addition, Rod's batting was still an important part of his game. In the 1977 Ashes series he made 63 at Headingley, although his side went down to an innings defeat. He also made 57 at the Oval. During that series he knew he had committed his future to World Series Cricket.

His keeping was well up to standard, but it was not a time for lower-order batsman. At no time in the history of the game had anyone had to face up to such non-stop bowling from the best practitioneers in the World. His only major contribution with the bat came when WSC Australia played a Supertest series in West Indies. Marsh made 102 not out in the first big international match to be played in Antigua. Back in the establishment fold he appeared in the Centenary Test at Lord's in 1980 and returned to England for the Ashes series of 1981, meaning he had not missing a single Test on five tours of the U.K. He made 91 against New Zealand at Perth in 1980-81. He appeared in the World Cup in 1983, scoring 50 not out against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge and 37 against West Indies at Lord's. On his retirement he had more victims (355) to his name than any previous Test wicket-keeper. (Bob Harragan)