Rod Marsh stands down as Australian chair of selectors by Cricket Australia

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Player:	RW Marsh
Event:	South Africa in Australia 2016/17

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DateLine: 16th November 2016

 

Cricket Australia has today announced that its Chairman of Selectors, Rod Marsh, has made the decision to resign from his position on the National Selection Panel, effective immediately.

 

Mr Marsh was appointed Chairman of Selectors for Cricket Australia on 2 May 2014, replacing John Inverarity. He was previously Cricket Australia's manager of elite coaching development.

 

Cricket Australia’s Chairman, David Peever, thanked Mr Marsh for his tenure and involvement in Australian cricket.

 

“Rod has played a pivotal role during a time of change in Australian cricket, which has seen the team hold the top positions in both Test and One-Day rankings as well as secure an ICC Cricket World Cup victory.

 

“We understand this decision has not come easily for Rod and on behalf of Australian cricket we thank him for his leadership and the integrity and insight he brought to the role throughout his tenure as the National Selector and the lifelong commitment he has given to our sport. Above all else, Rod is an outstanding person.”

 

Mr Marsh remains one of the most respected wicket-keepers to have ever played international cricket. His Test career spanned 14 years from 1970-1984. During this time he collected a then-record of 355 dismissals.

 

From 1990 to 2001 he oversaw the development of Australia’s best young cricketers as Head Coach of the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy. Throughout that time, the Academy, under the guidance of Mr Marsh, helped launch the international career of 27 Australian players including Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

 

Mr Marsh then worked for the England and Wales Cricket Board as the inaugural Director of its National Academy and later as a selector.

 

Speaking on his decision, Mr Marsh said: “This is my own decision and no one within Cricket Australia has pressured me or even suggested that I should do this. Clearly, though, it is time for some fresh thinking, just as it is for our Test team to welcome some new faces as we build for the future. “I have always had the best interests of Australian cricket foremost in my heart, and that's why I have made this decision.

 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the role and want to thank the coach, the staff, my co-selectors and all the players for their support and honesty over the past two and a half years. It was a thrill for me to be involved in many successes, including the World Cup win in 2015.

 

“I wish the captain, coach and the team all the best going forward. We will be great again.’’

 

The Board of Cricket Australia will hold an extraordinary meeting later this evening, where a decision on an interim appointment is expected to be reached. An announcement on this appointment will be made in due course.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2016 Cricket Australia)