Keith Stackpole, one of Australia's finest cricketers and a true Ashes legend, has passed away at the age of 84.
Stackpole made his Test debut in 1966 as a middle-order batter and leg-spinner, later becoming a powerful opening partner to Bill Lawry. With over 2,800 runs in Test cricket and a highest score of 207 against England at the Gabba, he carved a place among the game's elite.
In the 1972 Ashes, as Ian Chappell’s vice-captain, Stackpole topped the run charts and averaged 55.21 in Ashes battles. He was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1973, and later became a beloved TV and radio commentator.
His passing on April 22, 2025, leaves behind a monumental legacy in Australian and Victorian cricket. He was awarded an MBE in 1974 and remembered as much for his courage at the crease as for his wisdom in the commentary box.
Join us as we remember the life, career, and impact of Keith Stackpole – cricketer, mentor, and media legend.
🎙️ Featuring tributes from Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, plus archival highlights and career stats.
🔔 Subscribe to Sobia Streams for more sports tributes and cricket documentaries.
i hope you like the video of Cricket Great Keith Stackpole Dies at 84 | Tribute to the Fearless Aussie Opener.
#KeithStackpole #AustralianCricket #RIPKeithStackpole #AshesHero #CricketLegends #SobiaStreams #CricketTribute #CricketAustralia #TestCricket #CricketNews
Stackpole made his Test debut in 1966 as a middle-order batter and leg-spinner, later becoming a powerful opening partner to Bill Lawry. With over 2,800 runs in Test cricket and a highest score of 207 against England at the Gabba, he carved a place among the game's elite.
In the 1972 Ashes, as Ian Chappell’s vice-captain, Stackpole topped the run charts and averaged 55.21 in Ashes battles. He was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1973, and later became a beloved TV and radio commentator.
His passing on April 22, 2025, leaves behind a monumental legacy in Australian and Victorian cricket. He was awarded an MBE in 1974 and remembered as much for his courage at the crease as for his wisdom in the commentary box.
Join us as we remember the life, career, and impact of Keith Stackpole – cricketer, mentor, and media legend.
🎙️ Featuring tributes from Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, plus archival highlights and career stats.
🔔 Subscribe to Sobia Streams for more sports tributes and cricket documentaries.
i hope you like the video of Cricket Great Keith Stackpole Dies at 84 | Tribute to the Fearless Aussie Opener.
#KeithStackpole #AustralianCricket #RIPKeithStackpole #AshesHero #CricketLegends #SobiaStreams #CricketTribute #CricketAustralia #TestCricket #CricketNews
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00:00Keith Stackpole was a fearless and aggressive Australian cricketer who left an indelible
00:05mark on the game with both the bat and the ball.
00:09Born in Melbourne into a family deeply rooted in sports, he carried on a cricketing legacy
00:14of his father, who was both a first-class cricketer and an Australian rules football
00:20player.
00:21Stackpole's journey from a promising youngster to a respected elder statesman of the game
00:26is one filled with beginnings, powerful partnerships and a voice that echoed through generations
00:32of cricket.
00:33Keith Stackpole made his test debut in 1966, against England beginning his career as a middle-order
00:39best man and a leg-spin baller.
00:42Early in his career journey, he was known more for his bowling and flexibility in the batting
00:47line-up.
00:48But things changed in early 1969, when he was promoted to the top of the order, teaming
00:54up with the legendary Villaurie.
00:56Stackpole became a permanent opener, a move that proved to be a game-changer for his career
01:02and for Australian cricket.
01:04His median test century came against South Africa in Cape Town, a gritty knock that solidified
01:10his place in the side.
01:12But the innings that truly defined his career was a towering 207 runs against England at the
01:18Gaba during the 1970-71 Ashes series, a performance that would become one of the Australian cricket's
01:26most cherished memories.
01:28Keith Stackpole had a particular flair for performing against England.
01:31He averaged an impressive 55.21 in the Ashes contest, scoring three centuries against the
01:38old rivals.
01:39During the 1972 Ashes series, he served as a voice captain under Ian Chappell and was the
01:45top-run scorer with 485 runs at 53.88.
01:50His outstanding performances earned him a coveted spot as the Wisdom Cricketer of the Year
01:56in 1973.
01:58Keith Stackpole's international career came to an unexpected end during a Test match against
02:04New Zealand in Auckland in 1974.
02:06He was dismissed for a pair, with one of the most bizarre dismissals in Test cricket history.
02:12Recalling the incident later, he wrote, I only saw it a yard away from my head, I pulled
02:18out of the way, but the ball flicked the end of the bat and flew to first slip.
02:23Maybe it was the first time in Test cricket that a fellow was out first ball without the
02:28ball ever touching the ground.
02:30For his contribution to cricket, Stackpole was awarded the MBE in 1974, a fitting tribute
02:36to a distinguished sporting career.
02:39After retiring, he did not walk away from the game he loved.
02:42Instead, he became a prominent TV and radio commentator in the 1980s and 90s.
02:48His analytical sharpness, clarity of thought and deep love for cricket made him one of the
02:53most respected voices in the commentary box.
02:57As far as his stats, in his 43 Test matches, Stackpole scored 2,807 runs at an average of
03:0437.42, resisting 7 centuries and 1450s.
03:09His highest score that memorable, 207 at the Kaaba, came with a slice of luck when he narrowly
03:15survived a tight run-out call.
03:17As a part-time baller, he took 15 wickets with best figure of 2 for 33 and took 47 catches
03:24in the field, a testament to his all-round skills.
03:27In One Day Internationals, he played just six matches, scoring 224 runs at 37.33 with
03:35three half-centuries.
03:36Remarkably, Stackpole was part of the first-hour ODI match held in January 1971 at the MCG, where
03:43he made his mark with the ball, taking 3 for 40, a performance that reflected his adaptability
03:50to the shorter former.
03:51In first-class cricket, he was a consistent performer with the bat and ball.
03:56He played 167 matches, scoring 10,100 runs at 39.29, including 22 centuries and 50-50s.
04:04With the ball, he claimed 148 wickets and even had a five-wicket haul, 5 for 38 to his name.
04:12His first-class career also featured 166 catches, showcasing his safe hands in the field.
04:18Keith Stackpole passed away on 22 April 2025 at the age of 84, leaving behind a cricketing
04:26legacy that spans generations.
04:28His death sparked tributes from across the cricketing world.
04:31Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird remarked,
04:34Keith was one of the great contributors to the game of cricket and his legacy will live long
04:39into the future.
04:41Not only was he an outstanding player for Australia and Victoria, his work in the media, radio and
04:47TV commentary and as a mentor to many players who followed in his footsteps demonstrated his
04:53enduring passion and influence in the game.
04:56Moreover, Cricket Victoria Ross Hepburn added, Keith was a joint of the game, a brilliant cricketer,
05:03a passionate Victorian and a proud Australian.
05:06His courage at the crease and his deep understanding of the game made him one of the most respected
05:11figures of his time.
05:13Keith Stackpole was a true statement of Victorian cricket.
05:17He played the game with great spirit and remained a devoted ambassador for cricket.
05:22Long after his playing days were over, his legacy will endure not only in the record books,
05:27but in the hearts of all Victorian cricket lovers.
05:30Even after his passing, Keith Stackpole continues to trend on Google and YouTube.
05:35Cricket fans still revisit his classic novels, especially his double century in the Ashes and
05:40his performance in the 1972 series.
05:43His unique voice as a commentator and his unforgettable moments with the bat remain asht in cricket history.