Wisden overview
A stocky, dour Test opener who perversely shone in one-day cricket, Geoff Marsh came from a Wandering farm to make an outsize contribution to the rebirth of Australian cricket. Though he averaged just 33 with four centuries in 50 Tests, he formed with David Boon a reliable opening partnership upon which a new team was founded in the wake of the Lillee/Chappell/Marsh retirements. Soon made vice-captain, he proved such a rock of Gibraltar to Allan Border than when Marsh finally was dropped after seven years, Border nearly resigned. In one-day cricket, Marsh exploited the early-innings outfield emptiness, the cut shot and his policy of batting through innings to make nine hundreds. He was also a sound gully fieldsman. After retirement, he became a selector, then for two years an unobtrusive Australian coach, winning the 1999 World Cup. He is now advising India. Greg Baum

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