Cricketing legend Rod Marsh remembered in celebration of life at Adelaide Oval

The life of Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh has been celebrated at a funeral at Adelaide Oval.

Australian cricketing royalty turned out in full force to farewell the former wicketkeeper and selector who died earlier this month, aged 74, a week after having a heart attack.

Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia between 1970 and 1984, snaring 355 dismissals behind the stumps.

He also served as Australia's chairman of selectors before stepping down in 2016.

The celebration of Marsh's life was hosted by by former state cricketer and commentator James Brayshaw.

«If you focused only on what Rod did on the cricket field, you'd miss so much — if he had any say, with his trademark humility, you'd miss the lot,» Brayshaw said.

Rod Marsh's inauspicious start to life as a Test cricketer earned him the nickname «Iron Gloves». By the end of his career he was revered as one of the best to ever keep wicket for Australia. 

«Not only a brilliant cricketer, he was an even better teammate.

»We are here to celebrate, we are here to respect the passing of a great man, and to celebrate a life lived to the fullest."

Marsh's brother Graham, an accomplished golfer, spoke at the funeral about his brother's early love of cricket, a love rivalled only by his love of his family and red wine.

Graham told a story about Rod coming to his rescue when he got into a fight with the town bully.

«I learnt two valuable lessons from my little brother that day, I always wanted to be on his team, and secondly, he would do anything to protect his family,» Graham said through tears.

«Many will remember Rod as the larrikin, the formidable diving wicketkeeper, the swashbuckling batsman, iron gloves, Bacchus, bowled Lily caught Marsh, the lover of fine red wine, the passionate