Dennis Lillee Delivers Comments At Rod Marsh's Cremation, Saying, "It's The Character Rod Marsh That I Loved"

Dennis Lillee has remembered the difficult beginnings of his legendary relationship with Rod Marsh, confessing that he “still can’t believe his good friend isn’t with us longer” during the late wicketkeeper’s cremation on Thursday.

Their collaboration ensured that ‘c Marsh b Lillee’ appeared 94 times in Test cricket scorebooks, with the pair starting and finishing their campaigns at the same time, and concluding with a world record of 355 dismissals and wickets.

Lillee, a fast bowler, was one of those who spoke at the Adelaide Oval memorial ceremony, which emphasized his passions for cricket, golf, travel, family, friends, and red wine. Nevertheless, Lillee remembers that because of his non-drinking status, things got off to a tough start.

“I still can’t believe our partner and many others’ mate is no longer with us,” he said. “It’s taken me days to jot down my views on this incredible man. But I’m not interested in discussing his cricketing abilities; I’m interested in Rod Marsh as a person.

Dennis Lillee remarked on some of the incidents:

Lillee reflected on a 4WD drive in the Perth wilderness, where a damaged tire forced them to come to a halt shortly after spotting an eight-meter large snake.

“I told Bacchus [Marsh] I’d keep an eye out for the snake while he climbed under the car to lower the spare,” he explained. “I pinched one of his ankles, and he smacked his head on the undercarriage, then shot out from under the car and climbed back in.”

“I couldn’t stop laughing, but it backfired when he wouldn’t get out, leaving me to change the tire while keeping one eye peeled for that bloody snake.”

Marsh, who died on March 3 at the age of 74, participated in 96 Tests and became the first Australian gloveman to score a century in a Test match. He also played in the first One-Day International, which took place in Melbourne in 1971, against England.

He went on to lead the cricket academies of Australia and England, as well as becoming the first director of an ICC world coaching academy in Dubai. He went on to become the chairman of selectors for the Australian men’s team.

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