Poor old Rod Marsh,
His critics are rather harsh.
His faults are apparently Mennie,
Yet this blame should be not any.
His thinking has been labelled blurred,
For not selecting the saviour Bird.
Jackson was told he’s a walking duck
Pundits claiming he was out of luck.
Before bashing poor uncle Rod
Let’s remember he is a selection God
His genius selections are a plenty
None bad and great ones over twenty.
So before crucifying Mr Swamp
Let’s go for a good old romp
Through a pick of his very best,
Selections for which we are mightily blessed:
I’ll start with the Murali reincarnate
He who has mastered the one that goes straight.
Of course I refer to Jonny Holland aka Dutch
Bamboozles batsmen by spinning it less than a touch.
A memorable player he will be written in history
To opponents his dead straight break remains a mystery.
Another genius selection saw Rod bathing in champagne
Being the choice of Agar for the World T20 campaign
He knew the Kiwis would forget the rules
He shook his head and laughed “the fools”
Six and out worked like a treat
As the Kiwi batsmen used their feet
In one over three a Kiwi mug
Gave Rod good reason to be delightfully smug
What a selection he thought to himself
So chuffed that he put Ashton onto the shelf
Don’t want to show off he announced
Congratulating Ashton that none of them bounced.
Then there was Dan Worrall the pitch artist
A selection which was one of Rod’s smartest.
Rod had admired Dan’s Picasso like yield
Rewarding his form in the Sheffield Shield.
Rod knew that Shield form translated to ODIs
So it came to no one as a surprise,
When Dan dominated on debut with a wicket
Against Ireland the benchmark of cricket.
His next two ODIs were similarly a success
Regularly putting the South Africans under duress.
An ODI bowling average of one seventy one
Testament to his ability to reach the ton.
Marsh was pleased with Dan’s contribution
Immediately penciling him in as an Ashes solution.
Of course the ultimate selection
As I sit here in whimsical reflection
Is that of the great Scotty Boland
Overlooked for the second XI of Poland
Rod Marsh saw potential in the lad
Likening him to a present day Sir Galahad.
Strong, pure, brave and gallant,
Marsh assured us this guy had talent.
His debut series reassured us of this fact,
As he starred down Kohli and attacked.
A solid return for a debut series,
As India struggled to answer his probing queries.
One wicket at two fifty nine
All and above he would outshine
The bowling for the wicket was immense
MS Dhoni caught on the long on fence.
An average eclipsing even the Don
Boland had from Lee taken the baton
Australia’s ODI bowling now in good hands
Rod Marsh was performing celebratory handstands.
Finally for Rod’s crowning glory
One for which he puts himself in the genius category
Having read an article of Australia’s best keepers
Seeing himself at six he shouted “jeepers”
Alarmed that he was listed that low
He wrote himself an urgent memo.
Not wanting to fall out of the top six
He would search for a new man behind the sticks
Paine and Wade were too good with the willow
At night Rod tossed and turned on his Mitch Marsh pillow.
Finally a great find by his selection panel
As they watched the Discovery Channel.
The discovery of one Peter Nevill
A keeper who could never reach his level.
Fifteen Tests later and an average of twenty
Rod was downing cruisers a plenty.
Still number six he sang in the streets
Job accomplished “I’m still one of the elites!”
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