'What a loss': Cricket world mourns death of Aussie icon Rod Marsh

Legendary Australian cricketer Rod Marsh has died, aged 74, a week after suffering a major heart attack in Bundaberg.

One of the nation's best wicketkeepers, Marsh played 96 Tests for Australia after making his debut in 1970 and 1986.

TROUBLING: Ashton Agar at centre of Pakistan tour death threat

'FAR FROM TRUTH': Pat Cummins smacks down Justin Langer theory

Controversially selected initially for his skills with the bat, Marsh would go on to become a fixture of the Australian Test team for more than a decade.

He would later go on to serve as Australia's chairman of selectors from 2014 to 2016.

Marsh suffered a heart attack in Bundaberg last week, and was later transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital on order to be closer to his family.

He had been placed in an induced coma, and was transferred interstate earlier this week.

There was an outpouring of grief and support for the Marsh family on social media when news broke of the wicketkeeping great's death.

Many took to Twitter to celebrate Marsh's achievements, with many also sending their condolences to his family.

Channel 7 sports reporter Tom Browne said Marsh's name would always be synonymous with a golden age of Australian Test cricket.

"Rod was an iconic Australian, that for me really summed up the halcyon days of cricket in the 70’s," Browne wrote.

"I was fortunate enough to join his golf group at Kingston Heath just before Christmas. An incredible day and very special memory."

Former England fast bowler Chris Tremlett also posted a kind tribute to Marsh, a former mentor of his.

"Very sad to see the news of Rod Marsh’s passing," he wrote.

"A great man who helped guide me and many others on the right path in my younger years and taught me what it takes to play international cricket. RIP."

Many others took to Twitter to pay tribute.

Cricket world mourns death of Australian cricketer Rod Marsh

After retiring, Marsh headed the cricket academies of both Australia and arch foe England, and was inaugural head of an International Cricket Council world coaching academy in Dubai.

After those stints, Marsh returned to Australia and became the nation's chairman of selectors in 2014, a role he held for two years.

Marsh became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982 and was elected to the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame in 1985 and the Cricket Hall Of Fame in 2005.

Australia's Test players are expected to wear black arm-bands when the first Test against Pakistan starts later Friday in Rawalpindi, as a mark of respect for the champion wicketkeeper.

"Quite a few players and staff members have had really good relationships with Rod in the past," Test captain Pat Cummins told reporters on Thursday.

"It's really tough. It has certainly been a conversation point over here."

Marsh had travelled to Bundaburg for a Queensland Bulls Masters event, and began feeling the symptoms of the heart attack shortly after he was picked up from the airport by colleagues Dave Hillier and John Glanville, who swiftly got Marsh to hospital.

The pair were thanked by Paul Marsh in a statement released by the family on Thursday.

“Dad would not still be here without the bravery and quick thinking of Dave Hillier and John Glanville. We will be eternally grateful to both of them,” Paul Marsh said.

“We also want to thank the Bulls Masters and in particular, Jimmy Maher, Darren Lehmann, Ian Healy and Allan Border, whose love and care for our family has been extraordinary.

“The team at the Australian Cricketers Association has also been incredible and we’d like to thank Todd Greenberg, Kelly Applebee and Justine Whipper for their support.

"We’d also like to thank the ICU team at Bundaberg Hospital for their outstanding care and support.”

With AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.