Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh has died at the age of 74, a week after suffering a serious heart attack.
The former wicketkeeper died in hospital in Adelaide, having been transferred from Bundaberg earlier this week.
Marsh played 96 Test matches for Australia between 1970-1984, retiring with a then world record of 355 dismissals, 95 of which came off the bowling of his great mate, Dennis Lillee.
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He was also the first Australian wicketkeeper to make a Test century, reaching the mark against Pakistan in Adelaide in 1972-73, although Bill Lawry had famously declared with Marsh on 92 in just his fourth Test match against England in January, 1971.
A hard-hitting left-handed batter, Marsh averaged 26.51 with the willow.
His former captain and long-time friend, Ian Chappell, told Wide World of Sports Marsh was respected by all those he played with and against.
"It wasn't just his playing ability, although that was a big part of it," Chappell said.
"The thing about Rod was, you knew where you stood with him, he always said what he thought, and you can handle that, because he was up-front."
Marsh remained connected to the game after his retirement, including a stint with the Nine commentary team, as well as taking charge of the Australian Cricket Academy.
He subsequently took a role developing young talent in England, and then a similar role with the ICC.
Most recently he served as Australia's chairman of selectors, a post he relinquished in 2016.
"His tentacles were pretty widespread in cricket, so there were a lot of people that knew him, and even if somebody didn't necessarily like him, they respected him," Chappell said.
"He was always happy to have a yarn, he had a good sense of humour, anybody that met him enjoyed his company."
Renowned for having a sharp cricket brain, Marsh was a source of advice for Chappell throughout his time as Australian captain.
"He was of terrific value," Chappell explained.
"I was really lucky when I started as captain to have Keith Stackpole on one side and Rodney on the other side. They gave me a hell of a lot of information without me even moving.
"Rodney always had ideas and he wasn't afraid to tell you, and if he thought you were making a mistake as captain he'd tell you that as well."
Chappell was full of praise for Marsh's ability behind the stumps, noting firstly that he was never dropped from the Australian side, and secondly that he covered more ground than any other wicketkeeper.
"I remember being asked who I thought was the better keeper, Rodney or Ian Healy, and my response was simple, you just needed to have a look at their hands," Chappell explained.
"Ian's hands were all over the place when he finished, Rodney's hands weren't immaculate, but they were straight. He kept a lot to Lillee and (Jeff) Thomson, and they're the bowlers who are going to break fingers.
"Healy wasn't far behind, he was very good, particularly up to the stumps, but Rodney was the best Australian wicketkeeper I saw."
Inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2005 and the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009, Marsh is survived by wife Ros and children Paul, Dan and Jamie.
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