Legendary former Australian cricketer Rodney Marsh passed away at the age of 74 on Friday morn-ing after being in an induced coma at Adelaide hos-pital, his family confirmed.
He is survived by his wife Ros and children Paul, Dan and Jamie. Australian cricketers are mourning the loss and the Aussie squad currently present in Pakistan will wear black armbands in his memory in the first Test against hosts at Pindi Sta-dium today, Cricket Australia said in a statement issued to announce Marsh’s demise.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins hailed Marsh as a “colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave around 50 years of incredible service to Australian cricket.”
“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,” said Cummins, who is in Pakistan for Australia’s first tour in 24 years.
“I, along with countless other people in Austra-lia, 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,” he said.
Cummins further stated that when he thinks of Marsh he thinks of a generous and larger-than-life character who always had a life-loving, positive and relaxed outlook.
He said that Marsh’s passing has left 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.”—APP
