A ‘shattered’ Bill Lawry has paid tribute to his lifelong friend and Australian cricket legend Keith Stackpole, who sadly died on Tuesday afternoon, aged 84.
The pair formed one of Australia’s great opening Test partnerships, with Lawry’s cautious style of play complimenting Stackpole’s exciting brand of cricket.
‘I’m shattered,’ Lawry, who captained Australia’s Test side on 25 occasions, said to Code Sports, when asked about his friend.
‘When I got the call from his son with the news I was shocked because I spoke to Stacky the day before he died and he seemed fine.’
Stackpole, who, according to 3AW died suddenly on Tuesday afternoon leaves behind his wife Pat and children, Peter, Tony and Angela.
Heartbreakingly, Lawry revealed that he did not have many close friends and was devastated by the loss of his great mate Stackpole.
Aussie cricket legend Keith Stackpole (pictured) sadly passed away on Tuesday, aged 84
Stackpole’s good friend and former batting partner Bill Lawry has spoken of his devastation over the news
Lawry said he had taken the news of Stackpole’s (pictured) passing ‘really hard’ heartbreakingly adding that he had ‘lost a great friend’
‘I have lost a great friend. I have really taken it hard. We were similar – he was probably more sociable than I am.
‘I don’t have many close friends. We would talk a lot,’ the former Australian captain said.
‘We have lost not only a great Victorian but a real good citizen. He was great to have as a friend. He has been wonderful.’
Stackpole, who is affectionately known as ‘Stacky’, came from a family of athletes, with his father, Keith Stackpole Snr, representing Victoria cricket at first-class level, having also made 118 appearances for Collingwood and Fitzroy during a distinguished VFL career.
‘Stacky’s old man was a very aggressive player and it flowed through to Keith,’ Lawry said. ‘He would have no qualms hitting the first ball for four. He played the game as you probably should play it.’
Stackpole was initially drafted by Australia as a middle-order batter who bowled legbreaks.
He’d win his first cap against England during the 1965-66 Ashes Series but later moved up the order to partner Lawry as an opener.
His highest Test score of 207 came against England in Brisbane in December 1970, with the cricket great averaging 37.42 runs in his Test career.
Stackpole (pictured) made his mark on Australian cricket on and off the field in a stellar career that saw him named the world’s best player in 1973
Lawry (pictured) recounted the brilliant times times the pair had also shared together in the commentary box
A career in media followed after he retired in 1974, with Stackpole being drafted to commentate on Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.
Lawry recounted the brilliant times they spent in the commentary box together at Channel 9 but also reflected on how he was left gutted when ‘Stacky’ was sacked from his role by Packer.
‘Stacky and I used to love working together on Channel Nine and I was really disappointed when he was dropped from the team. I rang him a lot after that. That was ridiculous.
He added: ‘It was tragic. He and I were enjoying the good life. It felt as if we got paid more for a day with Channel Nine than we did playing for Australia for a season.’
After his retirement from cricket due to a life-changing back injury, Stackpole was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport.
After Lawry handed the captaincy over to Ian Chappell, Stackpole would go on to be named vice-captain.
Lawry added that Stackpole was always supportive of his team-mates, while Chappell also praised his courage and leadership.
‘I couldn’t have asked for a better vice-captain,’ Chappell told News Corp.
Stackpole (pictured) would make 43 Test appearances for Australia amassing 2807 runs and seven centuries
‘He had no obvious fear and was one of the few players I have met to actually embrace facing fast bowling.
‘People don’t fully understand the guts and skill it requires to take on opening bowlers.
‘The quicker the better for “Humphrey” and he played for his team, not himself.
‘He was a wonderful cricketer and a very good friend.’
