- Cup honours one of Australia’s finest wicketkeepers, who was born in Armadale
- WA and SA will compete to be crowned the inaugural Rod Marsh Cup recipients
- Cook Government recently announced $100,000 towards elite wicketkeeper academy
The inaugural Rod Marsh Cup has been unveiled ahead of Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia.
The Cup honours the former Australian wicketkeeping legend, and his contribution to the game both on and off the field.
Its design includes a jarrah stem and base to represent Mr Marsh’s birthplace of Armadale, flanked by gold stumps engraved with Mr Marsh’s most famous cricketing achievements, including his then world-record 355 wicketkeeping dismissals during his Test career.
The Cup also includes the Southern Cross, celebrating his composition of the Australian team victory song “Under the Southern Cross I Stand”.
Western Australia and South Australia will play for the honour of holding up the Rod Marsh Cup, based on the results of their Sheffield Shield contests each year. A points-based system will determine the winner once fixtures are complete.
The Cook Government continues to support cricket at all levels throughout the State, from elite athlete to grass roots programs. In September the Government announced $100,000 over three years, for the Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy, with 10 players chosen in the first intake.
Local cricket clubs have benefited from the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund and Club Night Light Program – administered through the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries – which has distributed $28.3 million to 106 projects over the past five years.
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
“Rod had strong ties to the Western Australian and South Australian cricketing communities, and I’m thrilled this Cup is making its debut before both teams face off in today’s Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA Ground.
“This Cup, combined with the Cook Government’s recently announced Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy, will help ensure Rod’s legacy lives on for years to come.”
Background: WA cricket legacy lives on in Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy
