Rod Marsh and Mark Waugh are two of Australia’s cricket legends and two champion blokes – no argument about either.
Marsh had an inauspicious wicket-keeping start to his Test career, quickly dubbed ‘iron gloves’ when he replaced Brian Taber in 1970, spilling more than he caught.
But his undoubted ability won through pretty quickly to end his stellar career of 96 Tests as the world record-holder for dismissals with 355 – 95 of them caught Marsh bowled Lillee.
That record has since been broken by Mark Boucher’s 555 from 147 Tests, Adam Gilchrist’s 416 (96), and Ian Healy’s 395 from 119.
Throw in two Test tons with four 90s, averaging 26.51 with plenty of power, and Marsh more than made his mark.
Mark Waugh was, with David Gower, the most elegant of batsmen who effortlessly struck boundaries. It was all a bit of a doddle for Waugh on the way to 20 Test tons that included 138 at Adelaide on debut against England in 1991.
Waugh also shared a world record with his three-minute older twin Steve for NSW in 1990 when they carved up the Western Australian attack to set an unbeaten 464 for the fifth wicket – Mark cracked 229, Steve 216.
Waugh’s Test batting average of 41.81 wasn’t as high as his ability demanded, but his then world record 181 Test catches made the seemingly impossible look ridiculously easy.
Throw in his medium-pace offies, and Waugh was a huge all-round talent.
Both Marsh and Waugh would have made top-class captains with their cricket nous and communication skills as Marsh has proved as national selection chairman, and Waugh as a commentator on national television.
Now for the interesting comparison as selectors.
Back in March for the World Cup clash with Afghanistan at the WACA, Marsh was the selector on duty and dropped Shane Watson for James Faulkner.
Most pundits wrote Watson off for the entire tournament.
But for the next game against Sri Lanka at the SCG, Waugh was the selector on duty and recalled Watson.
This week Marsh is on duty at Lord’s and has, according to reports, again dropped Watson, this time for Mitchell Marsh – no relation – for the second Ashes Test that starts tonight.
Which begs the question, what will happen to Watson when it’s Waugh turn again to be on duty during this series?
Time will tell.
With Watson dropped, there are two changes tonight with keeper Brad Haddin making himself unavailable through personal reasons. His family is in London, so Haddin will remain with the side and Cricket Australia has announced that’s all that will be said.
The reason must be serious, so understudy Peter Nevill will make his debut at the home of cricket and will do an excellent job, he’s a high quality keeper-batsman.
But comment must be made about Haddin spilling Joe Root before he had scored at Cardiff in the first Test. Root went on to play a classical 134 to win the man of the match award and England won by 169.
Haddin’s been pilloried over the missed chance, labelled too old at 37 and that he’s past his best, despite nailing three other catches at Cardiff.
But Haddin has taken many crackerjack catches among his 270 dismissals from 66 Tests. They have been lost in the telling.
Which is as ridiculous as saying Don Bradman couldn’t bat because he managed a duck in his last Test dig at The Oval in 1948.
fadida
Guest
They drop Neville and Watto keeps wicket
Chris Love
Guest
Watson dropped! YES!!!!!!! Riddle me this though......hypothetical of course. Peter Neville scores centuries in both innings and wins us the second test against the odds after a batting collapse and holds his own with the gloves involving no howlers........ Haddin declares he is right to play the third test.....what happens? Do they just declare Neville the air apparent and allow Haddin to finish this series?
Brendon
Guest
In test cricket batting you're only as good as your biggest weakness. It doesn't matter how good you are at other aspects of batting if you have one huge, major technical flaw and that is LBW's with Watson. While Waugh didn't have a huge technical flaw he was never going to average more than mid 40's. It doesn't matter how good look you playing a straight drive or a drive through the covers. Subjective, aesthetic appreciation of someones style does not indicate their overall ability. A more practical, fact orientated judgement of talent and ability is needed in professional cricket. Its no coincidence that Watson and M. Waugh were much much much better ODI players, both all time greats in the 50 over format, than tests. I don't know if Haddin's family issues were current while he was playing the 1st test in Cardiff. Either way he had a bad game but we do know he can do the job. Watson problem is his bowling is next to useless now and he isn't technically or mentally up to test standard.
jamesb
Guest
In his spare time, Rod Marsh was a pretty useful footballer as well. He played for QPR and Man City. What a talented man. Cricketer, footballer and now cricket selector. Theres nothing that he cant do. Anyway, previous posts have become somewhat silly, so I might as well join in on the act.
AlanKC
Guest
Watto being dropped doesnt = Watto being shafted.
I know cricket
Guest
So guys who will win this 2nd test????
I know cricket
Guest
Explain what you mean here????!!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
To some extent Watson always had to play the first test, otherwise what is he doing on the squad. If he's in the squad it's got to be that he has one last chance to hold his spot otherwise Marsh gets it. If Watson indeed is out now it's because he had that one last chance and couldn't take it and now he's gone with his only real shot being Mitch getting injured before the series is out.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Kim K style.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yeah had to know isn't it. It would certainly be one hell of a scandal if Watson was named tonight...
James
Guest
pretty the ad guys on here are praying like crazy that watson gets picked. hell every ad guy everywhere in relation to sports is praying for watson haha
spruce moose
Guest
It must be consensus. Lehmann is also a selector
spruce moose
Guest
You know very little Clarke and Watson are not friends. I think Clarke would prefer Voges in the slips. Everything else you said si right though.
jamesb
Guest
If Watson plays tonight, it will break the internet.
jamesb
Guest
Maybe he doesn't want to tell the opposition and therefore keep them guessing.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Interestingly, they're almost exactly on par with each other as far as 50s go. But as we all know, Watto fails to go on with it, whereas Junior ended up with 20 centuries. Give me Waugh over Watson every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I think you'll find Clarke is telling porkies.
I know cricket
Guest
The Bush: Great points mate....there has been a tonne of speculation about Watto gettin shafted but i wouldnt be suprised if he plays and imagine the online uproar!!! I for one would be livid and scream and shout @ my TV set! The selection panel is a massive Boys Club....Clarke is probably being coy or talking trash to cover up that old mate Watto is binned and Clarke will be lonely in the slips with Voges and not Watto If Watson does play in the XI tonight the Aussies might as well hand over the urn and get back to Oz right away
The Bush
Roar Guru
Yet Clarke was on TV this morning saying he doesn't know what the 11/12 is so how can the media? How incredible would be after all this "reporting" only for Watson to be named tonight?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I doubt it's as simple as Marsh wanting one person and Waugh the other. After all, I'm pretty sure Marsh was on duty for the first test too and selected Watson. If Mitch breaks down with an injury before the end of this series, that's probably Watson's only way back to the test side now. If Marsh stays healthy they'll give him an extended run in the team unless he looks completely incompetent and out of his depth with bat and ball. And by the time they've given Marsh a good run, if he fails and they decide to drop him it would almost certainly not be for Watson by then. We probably would be looking at a Faulkner, Henriques or Maxwell option, or for them to decide they can do without a genuine allrounder and just use the part-time bowling of a few batsmen as enough to cover a few overs and give the main bowlers a break.