Source : ABC NEWS
Former Australia Test opener Keith Stackpole has died, aged 84, after a dynamic career including seven centuries and a brilliant Ashes double ton.
His career trajectory mirrored that of modern great Steve Smith, first picked at number eight in the 1965/66 Ashes series on account of his leg spin, before moving up the order three years later.
Stackpole played 33 of his 43 Tests at the top of the order, hailed as an aggressive batter to complement the more staid Bill Lawry.
He finished his Test career in 1974 with 2,807 runs, a top score of 207 amongst seven centuries, and an average of 37.42.
“Stacky was a great team man,” former teammate Doug Walters told News Corp.
“He was also great to watch. The first ball could go out of the ground. He had a particularly good hook shot. He had shots everywhere. He will be missed.”
Stackpole’s aggressive style also worked well for the shorter form of the game, and he played in the first four one-day international matches ever played, against England in 1971 and 1972.
He ultimately only played six ODIs in total — scoring three half-centuries — before retiring from the game and moving into commentary roles on TV and radio for the ABC, Nine and Seven.
Fellow Victorian Merv Hughes wrote on social media that it was “very sad news”.
“Stacky was a fantastic cricketer but more so a great bloke,” he said.
“And one hell of a cricket coach — I learnt a hell of a lot from both him and Ian Redpath.”
He was described as “a dynamic and influential figure in Australian cricket” by the sport’s national governing body.
“Keith was one of the great contributors to the game of cricket and his legacy will live long into the future,” Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said.
“Not only was he an outstanding player for Australia and Victoria, his work in the media, radio and TV commentary and as a mentor to many players who followed in his footsteps demonstrated his enduring passion and influence in the game.
“It is testament to his talent and standing that he was one of the five ‘Wisden Cricketers of the Year’ in 1973 and was awarded the MBE in 1974 for services to cricket.
“He will be sadly missed and his wife Pat and their family and many friends are in our thoughts.”
