Caught Marsh Bowled Lillee

CricConnect Fans | October 22, 2023

Sometimes you hear snippets of information and think that’s gold, there’s a tale to be told.  

The names Lillee and Marsh are synonymous with Australian cricket. Two Australian cricketing legends welded together as a combination as batsman were “Caught Marsh Bowled Lillee”.  

But where did it all start, and here’s the great cricket trivia question. 

Who was the first batsman in first-class cricket to be “Caught Marsh Bowled Lillee?” 

It happened on 2 November 1969 in a Sheffield Shield game at The Gabba between Western Australia and Queensland. 

His name was Keith Dudgeon. 

Keith was 23 not out overnight on day 2 of the 4-day game and on reaching 60 on day 3, he became the first batsman in first-class cricket to enter the scorebook as Caught Marsh Bowled Lillee. 

Here’s a link to the scorecard. 

Keith Dudgeon was born in 1946 and made his first-class debut for Queensland at the age of 23. He played 41 first-class games for Queensland scoring 1576 runs at an average of 22.84 with the highest score of 85. He also took 15 wickets at 24.33 with 2 for 14 being his best bowling. 

His playing days with Valley Cricket Club continued until 1982. Keith had two stints as First Grade Captain, was awarded life membership in 1979 and selected as 12th man in the Valley Cricket Club team of the century in 1997/98. 

Keith’s involvement in cricket continues to this day as he still owns and operates Keith Dudgeon Cricket Specialist, a business he started from a spare room in his family home back in 1980.  

It remains a family operated business with his kids actively involved and the business is located at 64 Koorong St, The Gap in Brisbane 

The business is also a proud sponsor of Valley Cricket club in Queensland Premier Cricket Competition.