It is ironic that Shane Warne sent his final message on Twitter, mourning the passing of Rod Marsh on 4 March 2022, writing that “Rod was a legend of our great game and an inspiration to so many young boys and girls,” just before his own sudden and untimely death in Thailand, that same day.
Vale Rod Marsh
The international cricket world is mourning the loss of Rod Marsh, who died on 4 March 2022. One of Australia’s finest wicketkeepers, Rod was loved, respected and admired by all for his wonderful contribution to the game, both on and off the field.
For Australia, Marsh was wicketkeeper in the national side from 1970 to 1984 and then a celebrated coach and administrator. He played 96 Test matches, scoring 3633 runs at 26.51 and completing 355 dismissals; and 92 One-Day Internationals, tallying 1225 runs at 20.08 with 124 dismissals. During his career, Marsh held both the Australian and Test wicketkeeping records for dismissals.
His partnership with great friend and team mate, Dennis Lillee is one of the most iconic in Australian cricket history, the famous phrase “caught Marsh, bowled Lillee” appears in the scorebooks 95 times and remains a record today. Marsh was known for his acrobatics as a wicketkeeper and his feats as a damaging lower-order batsman. He scored 3633 Test runs and was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century. He was also a leader in the team and vice-captain to both Ian Chappell and Greg Chappell.
Greg Chappell fondly recalled Marsh, saying he was the “spiritual leader” of the team, who was not afraid to speak his mind.
After he retired in 1985, Marsh became a television commentator for Channel Nine before becoming director of the Australian Cricket Academy in 1990. He was so successful over the next decade that he was invited to do the same job in England from 2001 to 2005. He also served two years as Australia’s chairman of selectors from 2014 to 2016. He was inducted into Cricket Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2005.
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins said, “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.”
Vale Shane Warne
AIBC is shocked and saddened at the untimely death of Australian cricketing great, Shane Warne, at the age of 52. AIBC members have expressed grief at this sudden passing of a true cricketing genius who brought such joy to the game.
Warne was the greatest spin bowler ever. Who can forget the Ball of the Century? On 4 June 1993, Warne fiercely spun the ball across the pitch at Old Trafford with his first ball in an Ashes series. It took English right-hander Mike Gatting, and his off-stump, by complete surprise. Warne became an instant legend!
Warnie, as he was affectionately known, had very close ties to India and was much loved there, not only by the cricketing world, but by his millions of fans. In 2008, when the IPL was launched, the Rajasthan Royals chose the wily leg spinner to lead them, and struck gold. They subsequently went on to win 11 out of the next 13 games and on to the stunning finals. His sudden death brought an outpouring of grief from many of the players involved in Rajasthan’s historic, and only, IPL Title win.
The Indian cricket team observed a minute’s silence before the start of play on Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka to pay respect for both Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne. The players, who all wore black armbands today, also paid tribute to Warne in a number of videos posted to their Facebook page a short time ago. Captain Rohit Sharma said he was “absolutely devastated” to hear the news about Warne, saying he “inspired [a] whole new generation of cricketers. He did wonders with the ball, we all know about that,” he said. Virat Kohli said Warne lived life “king-size” and brought a persona and charisma to the game on and off the field. “[I’m] just very grateful to have known him and for me the greatest spinner to have ever played the game. Passing at the age of 52 is something which is totally unexpected – went far too early,” he said.
RIP Rod Marsh and Shane Warne