Photo Credit: ICC
WA Cricket, in partnership with the WA Government, will honour one of the state and Australia’s finest wicketkeepers via the new Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy.
Founded as Australia’s first specialist wicketkeeping school, the Academy will build on the late Rod Marsh’s legacy of educating the next generation of cricket talent in an often-overlooked discipline.
The program, funded by the WA Government’s Strategic Initiatives Grants Program and administered by WA Cricket, will identify, develop and support male and female wicketkeepers as they progress through from pathways to senior cricket.
WA Wicketkeeping Coach Damon Rowan will spearhead the Academy, with support from former WA Women’s player Angele Gray, Scarborough gloveman Riley Mattingley and Andy Greig.
Current WA Men’s assistant coach Travis Birt and state development coaches Tim Edmunds, Brian Shields, Adrian Harris, and Ryan Hosking will also offer coaching support throughout the summer.
Ten players (listed below) have been selected in the first intake, with each to receive up to 36 one-on-one specialist sessions.
The Academy’s formation will ensure the benefits of Marsh’s extraordinary contribution to cricket as a player, coach and administrator are passed on to up and coming cricketers.
On the field, Marsh became an icon of the game through 257 First Class and 140 List A appearances for state and country over a 16-year career.
The WA-born Marsh donned the gloves 86 times for his state in the Sheffield Shield. He amassed 343 dismissals (310 catches, 33 dismissals), placing him second on the all-time Shield dismissals list for WA behind only Tim Zoehrer.
He also enjoyed a storied international career, representing his country on 188 occasions between 1970 and 1984. His remarkable 479 international dismissals (355 Test, 124 ODI) ranks him third all time for Australia, a record only surpassed by fellow greats Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy.
Of his Test dismissals, 95 came in a lethal combination with fellow West Australian Dennis Lillee, leading to the famous “Caught Marsh, bowled Lillee,” phrase that became synonymous with Australian cricket in the era.
Following his playing days, Marsh oversaw the development of many of Australia’s finest ever players as a Director and Coach of the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide, before becoming the Director of England’s Academy. He later returned to Australia and succeeded fellow WA legend John Inverarity as Chair of the national selection panel.
The formation of this new academy will ensure Marsh will remain intrinsically linked to the education of cricketers for years to come.
Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy Members
The Academy’s first intake includes four scholarship holders, with a further six squad members coming from the WA Cricket junior pathways programs.
- Joel Curtis – Perth Cricket Club
- Joseph Kelly- Melville Cricket Club
- Shayna Jesani- Wanneroo Districts Cricket Club
- Veronica Keen- Midland-Guildford Cricket Club
- Simon Budge- Melville Cricket Club
- Jake Gerrans – Joondalup Districts Cricket Club
- Josh Nathan- Willetton Premier Cricket Club
- Alyssa Dermody- Perth Cricket Club
- Emma-Lee Hammond – Melville Cricket Club
- Ada Papallo- Perth Cricket Club
WA Cricket Chief Executive Officer – Christina Matthews said:
“WA Cricket is proud to partner with the WA Government to honour Rod Marsh’s extraordinary contribution to our state and the game through this new Academy.
“Rod was one of WA and Australia’s finest wicketkeepers and was a pioneering member of our exceptional talent pathway through his work off the field.
“This specialist wicketkeeping academy is the first of its kind in Australia and will ensure targeted coaching and development opportunities are afforded to those pursuing this skill.
“We thank the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for their support of the program and look forward to seeing a new crop of outstanding wicketkeepers come through the program.”
David Templeman – Minister for Sport and Recreation said:
“The academy is a testament to Rod Marsh’s extraordinary contribution to cricket as a player, coach and administrator and a testament to Western Australia’s commitment to nurturing cricket talent and raising the standards of the sport within the State.
“The Cook Government is proud to partner with WA Cricket through this new academy which will ensure targeted coaching and development opportunities are afforded to those pursuing this skill.”
Rod Marsh Player Profile
For Australia:
188 appearances (96 Test, 92 ODI)
479 dismissals (355 Test, 124 ODI)
4,858 runs (3,633 Test, 1,225 ODI)
20 half centuries (16 Test, 4 ODI)
For Western Australia:
86 First Class appearances
343 dismissals (310 catches, 33 stumpings)
4,412 runs
