Tribute for Keith Stackpole ...goodbye Stacky

Tribute for Keith Stackpole ...goodbye Stacky

Australian cricket has farewelled one of its most combative and charismatic characters with the passing of Keith Stackpole on Tuesday. A fierce competitor, courageous opening batter, and fiercely loyal team-mate, Stackpole's influence during a formative period in the game's evolution was as significant as it was deeply felt by those fortunate enough to share a dressing room with him.Keith's Test journey began in the middle order, but it was his shift to the top of the order that defined the cricketer - and the man - he would become. It wasn't just a tactical move; it was transformational. His temperament was perfectly attuned to the demands of facing the new ball. He relished the responsibility, often setting the tone for Australia's innings with a steely presence and a bat that spoke volumes

There's a story, often retold, that speaks volumes about the man. It was Jamaica, 1973, just before the West Indies series. Word had spread about a young Jamaican quick, Uton Dowe - touted as the next Wes Hall. When news came through that Dowe would be rested for a warm-up match, most of the touring side breathed easier. Not Keith. He was genuinely furious - pacing the dressing room, lamenting the missed chance. He wanted to face Dowe, to test himself, to measure the mettle of this rising force.When the first Test came round and Dowe took the new ball to the roar of Kingston's crowd, Keith was ready. The first ball was short; Stackpole sent it racing to the boundary. He went on to smack seven fours in a fiery innings of 44, dismantling the youngster's confidence - and with it, his career. It was Stackpole in full: courageous, combative, and utterly unwilling to let reputations go unchallenged.

To his beloved wife Pat and the entire Stackpole family: the thoughts and deepest sympathies of the cricketing community are with you. Keith Stackpole's legacy won't just live on in statistics or archives - it endures in the hearts of those who played with him, watched him, and knew what it meant to have "Stacky" at the top of the order

Walk tall, Keith.

....

Those that saw him, any comments...

In reply to sgtdjones

He is the one 'responsible' for the whole "Dowe shalt not bowl!" episode.

Oops, just saw that you already highlighted that onslaught on the lovable Uton Dowe.

“Has farewelled”

That’s a new one for me

In reply to Halliwell



You stuffy Brits avoid such phrases.

In reply to Drapsey

The sign that appeared in the crowd stated; The 11th Commandment , Dowe shall not bowl.
It was a savage targeted and successful attack on Uton. Never played another Test.
He was told in no uncertain terms by his captain, Kanhai not to bounce to Stacky.

It was entertaining to watch but also sad.

In one over , I recalled he was hooked for four in an over and followed up with a beautiful
out swinger that beat Stacky all ends up as wicketkeeper Findley leaped thinking Stacky
had got a touch, but he did not .
And what did Dowe do next ball ? Another bouncer
that Stacky slammed to the fence, and followed with a drive that went like a rocket through
extra cover.
It was not pretty as Dowsy barely missed a ton, and was the most expensive bowler in both innings
for only one wicket and Stacky scored the only ton for the Aussies matched by Foster's only
Test ton aided by the steadying influence of his captain,Kanhai who made 80 something.
But the talking point after the drawn match was Dowe's thrashing and because of the
added ' Comandment ' remains in witnesses' memories.

RIP Stacky.

In reply to hubert

Thanks for going down memory lane.

In reply to sgtdjones

Yes, Dowe shalt not bowl. That verse doesn't belong to Freddo only

In reply to hubert

Sorry Hubert just reading your post now

In reply to hubert

If this is the 73 tour I recall the emergence of tangle-foot Walker and Jeff Jammond stepping up to fill Lillee's void. Can't recall if it was rheJA match or the actual test that Lillee broke down and perhaps after going for a ton
I remember marvelous partnership between Rowe and Kalli but both went for half tons in quick succession. That brought in 2 new batsmen RBK and MLC Foster who both played themselves in before tearing into the Aussies. Hammond not knowing Fos was a master off his legs bowled one there. Believing it must have been luck or miracle why Fos turned it to on so, so late for 4 bowled the next two into his pads again. With the detest of touch and wrist they fizzled to the fence also.
Babu not to be left out also whacked Walker for 3 consecutive 4-s next over. 1st the famous sqare-cut followed by a cracking cover drive then the best on-drive ever. I think both got tons Foster's being his only test ton.
But this is about Stacky...Farewell mate.
Memories of a Lil short khaki pants away whose principal allowed the school to watch on the black n white.

In reply to Drapsey
Stuupes! Dowe was lightning fast, Stackpole was top edging him and Dowe eventually got him out off a top edge.

In reply to Wally-1

Dowe's only wicket of the game was getting the WK rODNEY LBW FOR 90 something.
Holder got Stacky in the 2nd innings after he made a ton.

In reply to Wally-1

Wally "Boar", you're way too young to remember the details of that 1973 'episode'.

My best memory from that game was watching Doug Walters as he racked up 70 something runs in one session. Talking about classic all around the ground shots, not voopsing like Stacky.

Yes, those flick off the pads by Foster all memorable too. I won't bother to mention Rohan Kanhai.

In reply to Brerzerk

That Test match was the first time Sobers was missing a Test for WI after about 90 Tests.He
Missed the series after undergoing surgery for some knee problem.
It was also Kanhai's 1st Test as captain.
Lillee who was lightning fast broke down missed the rest of the series and quite a few Tests
but recovered miraculously some said to partner Thompson in demolishing England in 74-75 although he
lost much of his pace even playing WI in that 75-76 series.
Maurice Foster not only got his ton but took his most important Test wicket by dismissing Stacky who played for
non existent turn and was bowled to end the assault before he got his 50. Fos and Toothpick bowled a lot of overs
in that game as the other spinner Inshan Ali who was like Dowe expected to cause OZ problems, was off the field
with some niggle. Kanhai was not a happy man but his astuteness as a cappo in field placings and use of the
limited attack stood out and allowed WI to draw the game.
Kanhai was not a fan of Inshan after this game.
The Kanhai- Fos partnership was a beautiful display of batting. So too was the one between Rowe and Kalli.
They came together after Fredo left,having lost Geoffrfey Greenidge whose stumps were splattered by
Tangle foot Max Walker who was the terror of WI and paired with a young Jeff Hammond barely 21 ,
in the absence of Lillee and record breaker against England Bob Massie who missed the entire series.
But OZ were well served with leggies Jenner and Okeefe along with Walker and Hammond.
On a personal note, I lost my first bet at the ground among our posse .A fellow St. Mary man's
bet was that Fos would make a century. I took the bet and lost as Fos who started well was in the 30s when
an Okeefe leggy got extra bounce but Marsh failed to stump as the ball bounced from his gloves back
towards the bowler with Fos stranded. Marsh was not called Iron Gloves for nothing in his early days as WK.
Kanhai duly admonished Fos and he played the best innings I have ever seen from him after that let off.
But I reclaimed some winnings when I bet that Toothpick would claim Greg Chappell who was batting like a charm.
He did.Deception with a slower ball that he tugged to Kalli at a short mid wicket.
Although WI lost the series, it saw the triumphant return of Lloyd who blasted a ton in a losing cause as WI collapsed in the
2nd innings of that Test and lost in Trinidad by 38 runs when Rowe got injured and did not bat at all and missed the
following series in England; only to return in style with his best series in 1974 as Fredo's partner and recording a
still talked about triple at the Mecca in partnership with his friend, Kalli.
Cricket is really Life. And we can celebrate and remember the ones who give us supreme entertainment.
Stacky did his part.

In reply to Brerzerk

That Series was my first that I became conscious of Test Cricket.
My dad had bought us the promotional magazine and up to today I can remember almost all of the Australian players names from memory.
However, as fate may have it, we never got to see them when they came to Bourda.

In reply to sgtdjones

RIP Stacky

In reply to hubert

Mature Hubert thanks for your encyclopedia of history..

In reply to hubert

Yes, one of the great beauties of that partnership was Babu guiding the very experienced FC player and recent test form (99 played on vs India '7172) Fos
Also, the Rowe/Kalli partnership where two extremely talented young guns weren't trying to outdo each other but both showed supreme confidence up to the ones that got them out. In 92 when we lost to Oz I was in the KCC stand and something significant happened. Just as Walker got Rowe out with a miscued shot from a lifter Julien also did the same to Adams. Said to a friend I'm seeing a repeat of history. McDermott is out injured and here is a group of young pacers stepping up. Wi gonna hear 'bout dem. One of them was McGrath.

Farewell Kieth Stackpole





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