Former Australia batter Stackpole dies aged 84

Former Australia batter Keith Stackpole has died at the age of 84.

The right-handed opener from Victoria played 43 Tests between 1966 and 1974, scoring 2,807 runs at an average of 37.42, including seven centuries.

Stackpole also played in the first ever one-day international, picking up three wickets with his leg-spin against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1971.

He is perhaps best remembered for his highest Test score, making 207 against England at the Gabba during the 1970-71 Ashes.

Stackpole went on to be the top scorer in the 1972 Ashes series, where he was Ian Chappell’s vice-captain, with 485 runs, and later became a television and radio commentator.

Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird said: “Keith was one of the great contributors to the game of cricket and his legacy will live long into the future.