Former Australian test player, comments, reaction

Former Australian Test star and Ashes hero Keith Stackpole has reportedly died, aged 84.

His death was announced by veteran cricket writer Jon Anderson on 3AW Breakfast, who said Stackpole's son Peter had told him he had died of a suspected heart attack.

Stackpole played 43 tests for Australia between 1966 and 1974. On the 1972 Ashes tour, He was vice-captain under Ian Chappell, and topped the run-scorers list with 485 opening the batting.

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Keith Stackpole hits a ball from John Snow to the boundary for four runs in the first Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1972. Getty

"Keith Stackpole was described last night to me by Rodney Hogg as the godfather of Victorian cricket," Anderson said.

"Part of Ian Chappell's success as a captain was having Keith Stackpole in the background as vice captain.

"Often the two of them would work yin and yang if you like, and that just worked so well together."

After his retirement from cricket, Stackpole enjoyed a career in media including a stint as a cricket commentator for the ABC. He also worked closely with Cricket Victoria, and mentored several stars including Dean Jones and Brad Hodge.

"To his wife Pat and children, Peter, Tony and Angela, sincere condolences," Anderson, who was Stackpole's former ghost writer, said.

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