Editing Rod Marsh (section)

== Early years ==
Marsh was born in the [[Perth]] suburb of [[Armadale, Western Australia|Armadale]] on 4 November 1947 to Barbara and Ken Marsh.<ref name="ABC News 4 March 2022">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Russell |title=Cricket great Rod Marsh dies aged 74 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-04/rod-marsh-defined-a-generation-of-great-australian-cricketers/100860168 |website=ABC News |access-date=4 March 2022 |date=4 March 2022}}</ref> Marsh played [[backyard cricket]] with his older brother [[Graham Marsh|Graham]], who became a professional golfer and won eleven times on the European Tour. Both brothers represented Western Australia at cricket at schoolboy level. Marsh played his first competitive match at the age of eight for the Armadale under-16s, where he also kept wicket.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2015 |title=Rod Marsh: 22 facts from the life of one of greatest wicket-keepers ever |url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/rod-marsh-22-facts-from-the-life-of-one-of-greatest-wicket-keepers-ever-509840 |access-date=4 March 2022 |website=Cricket Country |language=en-US}}</ref> At thirteen he captained the state schoolboys' team,<ref name=":0" /> and joined the West Perth district club.<ref name=":2" />

When he debuted for West Perth's first XI he was a specialist batsman, as Western Australia wicketkeeper [[Gordon Becker]] also represented the club. In order to further his keeping, Marsh joined the [[University of Western Australia|University club]]. He formed a bond with Dennis Lillee in 1966 at a time when Marsh was serving as a trainee teacher with the University Club.{{cn|date=December 2024}}{{clarify|date=December 2024}} Since then, he has been dubbed as Lillee's partner-in-crime by pundits.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=4 November 2019 |title=Rod Marsh: Dennis Lillee's Partner In Crime – Almanack |url=https://www.wisden.com/wisden-cricketers-almanack/rod-marsh-dennis-lillee-partner-in-crime |access-date=6 April 2025 |website=Wisden |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Marsh made his first-class debut for Western Australia, again as a specialist batsman, against the touring [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] in 1968–69. He had an unusual match, scoring 0 and 104.<ref name="wisden"/> His whirlwind knock of 104 on state debut against a fancied West Indian bowling attack which comprised [[Garfield Sobers]], [[Charlie Griffith]] and [[Wes Hall]].<ref name=":0" />