‘An incomparable innings that is lovingly remembered’: tributes flow for cricket legend Rod Marsh

Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh has died in Adelaide following a heart attack he suffered last week.

The 74-year-old was rushed to Bundaberg Hospital in a critical condition last Thursday.

The former wicketkeeper was in Bundaberg for an event for the Bulls Masters charity group before he was reportedly rushed to hospital by organisers John Glanville and David Hillier.

Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia between 1970 and 1984, snaring 355 dismissals behind the stumps.

He also previously served as Australia’s chairman of selectors before stepping down in 2016.

Marsh is survived by wife Roslyn and sons Dan, Paul and Jamie.

In a statement on behalf of his family, Paul Marsh said his father “passed away peacefully early this morning”.

“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 the love and support our family has received from so many people over the last week.

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

There has been an outpouring of grief around the world, with tributes flowing on social media.

Australian cricket coach David Hussey said it was a “sad day with the passing of the great Rod Marsh”.

“His saying, ‘cricket is a simple game made complicated’ still resonates with me,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Rod will be missed, thoughts are with his family.”

Australian cricket commentator and former international cricketer Mark Waugh wrote he was “so incredibly sad” to hear about the death of “an absolute icon” of Australian cricket.

“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,” he wrote.

ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell said Marsh would be remembered as one of Australia’s greatest ever wicketkeepers, who was “tough, competitive, unflinching, always in the game”.

Maxwell told ABC News Radio Sydney that Marsh had a “tremendous record” and had made a “huge contribution to the game”.

“He’s in everyone’s hearts and minds this morning, as is his family on the sad news that we’ve just heard,” he said.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was “very sad to hear of the passing of Rod Marsh”.

“As a kid he was my favourite player,” he wrote on Twitter.

“He was part of one of the most exciting eras in Australian and world cricket.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall described Marsh as a “great Australian”.

“I think all South Australians would mourn his passing when we heard about it this morning,” he said.

“… I grew up in the 70s and the 80s and he was larger than life — an incredible character, an incredible wicketkeeper, an incredible Australian.”

On Twitter, SA Labor leader Peter Malinauskas said Marsh played “hard but fair, and his loss will be felt far and wide”.

“As a player Rod Marsh was formidable,” he wrote.

“But it was his mentoring of a whole generation at the Cricket Academy here in Adelaide that really stands him apart as an icon.”

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South Australian Cricket Association president Andrew Sinclair described Marsh’s life as “an incomparable innings that is lovingly remembered”.

“Rod is one of the greatest to play the game, not simply because he was so wonderfully talented, but because he was such a tremendous person,” he said.

“A much-loved member of the South Australian cricketing community, Rod inspired all those fortunate enough to meet him or watch him play.

“Rod’s incredible on-field achievements will always be remembered and his profound legacy as a coach and administrator will endure.”