The West Australian government has offered to hold a state memorial service for cricket great Rod Marsh, who died on Friday aged 74 following a heart attack.
If Marsh family accepts, the commemoration of his life and career is likely to be held next month at the WACA ground, home of the Lillee Marsh Stand and where he so often played and shone.
That would allow more people to attend following the expected easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
Premier Mark McGowan says Marsh will be fondly remembered as one of WA's cricket greats.
"Rod Marsh was an Australian legend – synonymous with long hot summers, the iconic WACA ground and the oft-repeated phrase 'bowled Lillee, caught Marsh'," the Premier said.
Marsh's funeral will be held in Adelaide, where he had been living.
But he grew up in the Perth suburb of Armadale, playing backyard cricket with his brother and quickly rising from club cricket to colts before making 104 in his first match for the WA state team against West India in 1968-69.
Marsh made his debut as a Test cricketer at the age of 23, and went on to set a world record 355 Test match dismissals in an iconic career.
Marsh described how he and bowling legend Dennis Lillee understood each other so well, to the misfortune of so many batsmen:
"I've played with him so much now that most of the time I know what he is going to do before he has bowled. I know from the way he runs up — the angle, the speed, where he hits the crease — where the ball is going to be. I can see the way his mind is working and I can virtually bowl his over for him, ball by ball," he said.
After retiring from international cricket, Marsh went on to join Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series competition, and later as a coach, cricket commentator and chairman of Australia's Test selection panel for two years.
"A state memorial service is a fitting tribute to one of Western Australia's finest," Mr McGowan said.
