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Full name Geoffrey Robert Marsh
Born December 31, 1958, Northam, Western Australia
Current age 49 years 323 days
Major teams Australia,Western Australia
Batting style Right-hand bat
Other Coach
Relations Son - SE Marsh,Son - MR Marsh
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
BF
SR
100
50
4s
6s
Ct
St
Tests
50
93
7
2854
138
33.18
8124
35.13
4
15
307
1
38
0
ODIs
117
115
6
4357
126*
39.97
7790
55.93
9
22
302
22
31
0
First-class
184
323
25
11760
355*
39.46
33
46
133
0
List A
169
164
13
6366
126*
42.15
14
36
54
0
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
50
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ODIs
117
1
6
4
0
-
-
-
4.00
-
0
0
0
First-class
184
30
9
1
1/1
9.00
1.80
30.0
0
0
List A
169
6
4
0
-
-
-
4.00
-
0
0
0
Career statistics
Test debut
Australia v India at Adelaide, Dec 13-17, 1985 scorecard
Last Test
Australia v India at Adelaide, Jan 25-29, 1992 scorecard
Test statistics
ODI debut
Australia v New Zealand at Sydney, Jan 14, 1986 scorecard
Last ODI
Australia v Pakistan at Perth, Mar 11, 1992 scorecard
ODI statistics
First-class span
1977/78 - 1993/94
List A span
1981/82 - 1993/94
Profile
Geoff Marsh, a right-hand opening batsman renowned for his no-frills style and dogged determination, made his first Test appearance in December 1985 in an unsettled Australian side still coming to terms with the retirement of legendary trio Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and his namesake Rod Marsh. But after an inauspicious debut batting at No.3 against India in Adelaide, he was switched to opener where he began to solidify his spot, as well as the fragile top order, forming famous partnerships with two future Australian greats - firstly David Boon and then Mark Taylor. His steely, often grim, resolve in Tests was a contrast to his one-day batting, and it was in that he really flourished and found his true niche. His 117 one-day internationals yielded 4357 runs at an imposing average just shy of 40, which was almost seven runs higher than his Test average. His nine centuries and 22 half-centuries provided the platform for many Australian victories, with the highlight being the 1987 World Cup final triumph over England in India. When he stepped into the coaching shoes left by long-time mentor Bob Simpson in July 1996, Marsh took control of an Australian side that was the best Test-playing nation in the world, but whose one-day team had been unable to build on the success of 1987. But Marsh seemingly made a seamless transition, and managed to not only continue Australia's awesome form in the Test arena but, after a few hiccups along the way, transform the one-day team into world champs yet again. He enjoyed Test series victories in the West Indies, Ashes triumphs and a historic win in Pakistan, with a 2-1 defeat in India in 1998 the only blemish. But like his own playing career, it will perhaps again be his one-day achievements that are most fondly remembered. After a faltering start to their 1999 World Cup campaign, Marsh orchestrated a stunning turnaround by the pre-tournament favourites, with the rampant Australians winning seven pulsating matches in a row, culminating in a crushing victory over a hapless Pakistan in the final, to lift the World Cup trophy for the second time. After quitting the Australian job, Marsh was briefly an Australian selector before, in 2001, he took on an altogether different challenge - coaching Zimbabwe. But his tenure coincided with the politicalisation of the national side, and the defectiopn of many key players, and his position became more marginalised and hopeless. It wa sno surprise when he decided not to seek any extention to his contract when it expired in 2004.
Wisden Cricinfo staff (December 2004)
