Marsh loses interest; calls it quits

“I wrote to the Indian Cricket Board 10 days ago indicating that I was withdrawing my interest in the position. I withdraw for the same reasons that I stepped down from my role as Australian coach in September, 1999 to spend more time with my family,” he said in a statement issued by the Western Australian Cricket Association.

Marsh was reportedly offered a whopping sum of 700,000 Australian dollars (approx Rs 1.90 crores) to coach the Indian side.

BCCI, however, maintained that it had not received any intimation from Marsh and has invited him along with former Australian captain Greg Chappel and New Zealander John Wright for discussion on October 23 here.

Contrary to the reports that Wright had already been selected for the post, BCCI Chief AC Muthiah said: “Board still has an open mind in the appointment of the coach. We have called all the three for discussion.”AFP adds from Perth: Marsh, who had reportedly been offered 700,000 Australian dollars (approx Rs 1.90 crores) to coach the Indian side, said here that he had withdrawn his interest in the job 10 days ago. Marsh said in a prepared statement issued by the Western Australian Cricket Association: “I wrote to the Indian Cricket Board 10 days ago indicating that I was withdrawing my interest in the position.

“I withdrew for the same reasons that I stepped down from my role as Australian coach in September, 1999 to spend more time with my family.”Marsh said he was content to remain coach of local club side Willetton, where his 17-year-old son, Shaun, is a star all-rounder.

Shaun Marsh, one of three children in the family, is yet to make his first-class debut, but shrewd judges say that could be close. He is considered an exceptional talent who will make a major impact on the game over the next few years.

Geoff Marsh is known to have re-drawn some of his life goals, giving added emphasis to family closeness, after the tragic death in a road smash 14 months ago of close friend Mark McPhee, a former Western Australian batsman.He quit the Australian coaching job because he did not want to continue in a role which involved repeated and extended absences from home. He remains an Australian selector, a position involving only limited and occasional travel within Australia.

Australians Greg Chappell and Dean Jones had also been in the running for the Indian coaching position.