Rod Marsh’s wicketkeeping gloves

Wicketkeeper Rodney (Rod) Marsh debuted with the Australian team in 1970–71 and retired in 1983–84. He began his cricket as a specialist batsman.

At one point he was nicknamed ‘Iron Gloves’ for his poor form behind the stumps, but he finished his career with a world record of 355 dismissals in 96 Tests.

Marsh formed a particularly strong partnership with fast bowler Dennis Lillee, with the two becoming the most successful bowler-fielder combination in Test cricket.

Marsh used these leather wicketkeeping gloves during the 1980 season. He saw the gloves not as an aid to catching, but rather as a way to protect his hands from the hard cricket ball. This was particularly important when Marsh was keeping for bowlers such as Lillee and Jeff Thomson and often, despite the gloves, his fingers had to be further reinforced with tape and strapping.