Test Vale Keith Stackpole

[Kirby]

Died of a heart attack yesterday at age 84.

Keith Stackpole remembered as 'a fantastic cricketer and a great bloke'

Former Australia Test opener Keith Stackpole dies, aged 84, after a dynamic career including seven centuries and a brilliant Ashes double ton.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Groucho]

Very sad news. I remember going to a Shield game early 70’s and Stacky was out 20 minutes before lunch for 85. Terrific player

 

[Rabish Binney]

In todays language, he really did take the bowlers on…

Magnificent exponent of the hook shot and was never afraid to use it

 

[010203]

Quotes from Bill Lawry about his mate who he first met in the 1950s.

‘If you had a son like Keith Stackpole you’d be very proud’: Bill Lawry’s heartfelt tribute to ‘Stacky’

Stackpole was an aggressive opening batter who was an important member of the Australian sides captained by Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell from 1966-74.

www.smh.com.au

 

[rugmop]

'Stacky' played at Collingwood C.C., in Melbourne's District competition, before he was made coach of Carlton. His dad, Keith Senior, who played in Fitzroy's last footy premiership, in 1944, was a long time coach of the Collingwood C.C. Jack Ryder was a sort of honorary coach, even though he was in his 80s by then. Nobody was prepared to tell him not to keep turning up. I also represented that club, in 1964, in their Dowling Shield, Under 15 team. I didn't get much of a 'go' in the team because of a clique of West Heidelberg lads who exercised disproportionate influence. They weren't nasty to me, but they certainly left me with the impression that I didn't belong, especially if I were to displace one of their mates at selection. Anyway, I eventually was given a game.

I was a 'fast' bowler (comparatively). We were playing against Richmond. I was the seventh bowler used in our only innings to be played in that game. The odds of us winning the game seemed slim by this stage. I was somewhat insulted when our wicketkeeper stood up to the stumps in my first over. He moved back after my second ball hit him fair in the groin, turning his box inside out.

To cut a long story longer, I ended up taking 4/22, enabling us to win and secure a place in the finals, in a week's time. After the game, I was relaxing in the pavilion with a soft drink, watching the senior teams practising. 'Stacky' walked up behind me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Well done young fella." I was flabbergasted that he'd noticed me, much less that he spoke to me.

I was selected to play in the last game of the season proper, against Melbourne, at the Albert Ground. This time, I opened the bowling, without much success. Mind you, having four catches dropped in my first five overs didn't help, all of them in front of the wicket. I loved playing on the Albert (a beautiful ground). Its pitch had the appearance and performance of a 22 yard-long slab of glass. Having been later consigned to fielding at deep fine-leg, after my bowling spell, I nearly cacked myself when I went haring along the boundary line attempting to stop a leg glance, only to be attacked by the curator's German Shepherd. I managed to fend it off by swinging my steel toe-capped boot at its head with some minor success. Inevitably, I wasn't picked for the semi final of the competition later that week, which we subsequently lost.

I never again played with Collingwood. I have always thought that the cricket I played in those times was the best standard I achieved, despite playing the game for another thirty years thereafter, at various levels.

The highlight of my cricketing life was that compliment from 'Stacky'. He had no need to say anything. He was a hugely impressive figure on the field. One night at training, he hit a ball from Graham(Jerker)Jenkin from the nets on the southern side of the ground, over the fence in front of the grandstand, on the northern side. 'Jerker', apart from playing footy for Collingwood, was also an extremely quick, though occasionally a tad erratic bowler.

Keith was the epitome of what splendid sportsmen our lovely game provided(s). There were neither airs nor graces about him. Vice-captain of Australia's not a bad achievement, you know. Fantastic bat to watch. Bowled (mostly straight) leg-breaks. A very competent and safe close-to-the-wicket catcher.

P.S. To give you an idea of what that Albert Ground wicket was like, a couple of years after my ill-begotten game there, in the District First Eleven Grand Final, between Essendon and Northcote, 1030 runs were scored for the loss of 14 wickets, over 5 days. Bill Lawry, Northcote's victorious captain, and opening batsman, scored 282 not out in a score of 5/516.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

My enduring memory of Stacky was at Adelaide Oval in the 1970-71 Ashes series. John Snow had been terrorizing Aussie batsmen all series, but Stacky walked in and right from the beginning, anything short from Snow was dispatched to the boundary. Met him once in VFL House at Jolimont, seemed like a very nice bloke. Sorry to hear of his passing.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Favourite tale involving Stackpole was when the Australians were touring the West Indies, and the Windies had picked a new bowler named Dowe.

Dowe was very fast, but also very erratic. He kept dropping the ball short and Stackpole, being such a great exponent of the pull and hook, was absolutely feasting on him. After his first spell, Dowe had something ridiculous for a Test match like 5-0-50-0.

Later on, with Stackpole still batting, Dowe was given another chance. As he was warming up, a spectator yelled out:
"Hey man, ain't you heard the eleventh commandment?? Dowe Shalt Not Bowl!"

 

[Groucho]

Favourite tale involving Stackpole was when the Australians were touring the West Indies, and the Windies had picked a new bowler named Dowe.

Dowe was very fast, but also very erratic. He kept dropping the ball short and Stackpole, being such a great exponent of the pull and hook, was absolutely feasting on him. After his first spell, Dowe had something ridiculous for a Test match like 5-0-50-0.

Later on, with Stackpole still batting, Dowe was given another chance. As he was warming up, a spectator yelled out:
"Hey man, ain't you heard the eleventh commandment?? Dowe Shalt Not Bowl!"

Yep one of my favourites too