The news of Rod Marsh suffering a heart attack is concerning. As captain, he let me know how the quicks were hitting his gloves and he was never short of an idea. He also told me the truth and that’s how I learned a lot about captaincy
Rodney Marsh. Pics/Getty Images
“Is Rod Marsh an epileptic?” The phone call came about 11:30 am in Sydney.
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It was former Queensland and Australian ODI player and now Bulls Masters boss Jimmy Maher. The answer was an emphatic no.
The next call was concerning. “Rodney has actually had an attack in the car,” said Maher. “His heart stopped beating for several minutes before the hospital got it started again.”
Marsh, 74, is the best Australian ’keeper I’ve seen and he’s been a good mate since we played together in the 1970-71 Test side.
Marsh covered more territory standing back than any ’keeper and while this was a great asset it could also be a source of frustration. When Tony Greig edged Gary Gilmour’s away swinger in the World Cup semi-final at Headingley it was headed to my right-hand side.
Aussie wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh (left) attempts to run out England’s Geoff Boycott during the third Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 1977
It never reached me. “Listen you fat bastard, catches on my right are mine,” I told him during the celebration. That’s one reason our friendship endured; we both made our points clearly.
I was once asked who was the better ’keeper, Marsh or Ian Healy? It was an easy answer; “Have a look at their hands.”
Marsh’s hands, despite years of collecting the ferociously fast Jeff Thomson and the extremely quick Dennis Lillee, are untarnished. If you look at Marsh’s Headingley catch and then the diving leg-side one where he caught Clive Lloyd, you’ll understand about the territory he covered standing back.
I awarded Marsh the dubious nickname of Iron Gloves during his Test debut at the Gabba. I’d just read about the poor fielding Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Dick Stuart who was suitably nicknamed Iron Glove. This seemed like an appropriate time to anoint Marsh who dropped a couple in his first game.
World record
Years later when Marsh claimed the dismissal world record the laconic Doug Walters informed him; “Marshy if you’d taken ’em all in your first Test you would’ve claimed that record four games ago.”
It was after his first Test that former Australian opener and renowned journalist Jack Fingleton approached me at Sydney airport. “What’s this cove Marsh like?” he asked.
I replied, “He’s a good bloke; he can bat and don’t worry about the first Test, he can keep,” I answered. “Why do you ask?” “Well,” replied the fastidious Fingleton, “he just threw his suit carrier in the luggage rack on top of my deer-stalker. I told him, Marsh my hat’s under there,” Fingleton continued, “and he replied, it can only improve the hat.”
I thought to myself the debutant has a sense of humour, but I actually said; “Jack, he’s alright and you’ll enjoy a game of golf with him.”
We won that game of golf a few years later thanks to Marsh’s skill with the clubs.
Like all excellent teams we had not only a very good wicketkeeper, but a smart one. Marsh reasoned that if you were the incumbent you should improve by doing the job all the time.
He improved a hell of a lot, especially against spin because he was naturally very good standing back. As captain, he let me know how the quicks were hitting his gloves and he was never short of an idea. He also told me the truth and that’s how I learned a lot about captaincy.
“You’re an adjectival idiot,” he told me between overs at Old Trafford in 1972. Marsh reckoned it was a seamers paradise and I had two spinners bowling. This warned me I was captaining like it was Adelaide Oval and I had to adjust my thinking to the ground we were actually playing on.
Successful career as coach
Following his playing days we stayed in touch. He enjoyed a very successful career as head coach at both the Australian and England academies. A selector of both countries as well as chairman of the local panel, he established the Dubai training centre and even performed as an administrator.
Whatever the job he gave it his all and he told the truth. You always know where you stand with Rod.
He has a stalwart family in wife Ros, boys Paul, Daniel and Jamie plus their wives and families. He’s a widely admired character and I received numerous encouraging messages when Rod fell ill.
The gist of these messages was similar; “He’s a tough bugger, he’ll pull through.”
I’m hoping so because he was a first-class teammate and remains an excellent friend.
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