Cricket world reacts to Max Walker's passing

Current players and former teammates have paid tribute to Max Walker, who has passed away aged 68.

Quick Single: Max Walker's life in cricket

Walker was a larger-than-life character throughout his playing career and reached icon status through his media work and public speaking later in life.

Some of game's biggest names have reflected on a much-loved figure of Australian cricket:

Darren Lehmann, Australia coach and former Test and ODI batsman 

“Very sad news, a legend of the game and a legend in the way he went about things on and off the cricket field,” Lehmann said in Johannesburg this morning.

“As a young kid I remember him bowling off the wrong foot and getting all those wickets, and World Series cricket and always played with a smile on his face.

“He’s going to be sadly missed by all.

“When he talked in front of a group he really captivated a group, especially at the back end of his career when he went on the speaking circuit.

“He always used to take his Baggy Green around, that’s how much he cherished it and we’re speaking with the lads about that sort of stuff, with the Baggy Green and he loved it.

“He used to have photos (taken) with people with his Baggy Green all the time and he was a guy that wrote many books and had great stories and tales to tell.

“Those are the sort of guys that you love watching and playing cricket.

“(He helped in) changing the game through World Series Cricket, so we’re indebted to those guys who really changed the game of Australian cricket and he’s one of them."

Lehmann confirmed there was a sense of shock and sadness among the playing group as they learned of Walker’s passing.

“Very much so, and a Victorian so all the Victorians obviously loved him,” Lehmann said.

“But as an Australian we all loved him the way he went about it, the way he played the game and his joy for life was second to none.”

Merv Hughes, former Australia and Victoria fast bowler:

“I can first remember when I got in the state squad. Max was a senior player then and he was just so endearing and he just welcomed you in.

“That big smile on his face, he'd shake your hand and would just chew your ear off. He was just fantastic.

“There was Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson and Lenny Pascoe as the faster bowlers (in Australia Test sides Walker played in) and someone had to do the grunt work into the wind.

"Max Walker used to bowl a lot of overs, he was one of the most underrated players to play for Australia. 

“He was the backstop of the team. If they got into trouble they went to him. I just loved the way that he played.”

“He used to describe (his bowling-action) the right arm over the left ear and it looked like he tripped over every ball he bowled.

"You wouldn't say he had the perfect bowling action, but at the point of release he was in the most beautiful position you could possibly be."

“I never heard Max say a negative word about the game of cricket. He was one of the most positive blokes you could ever meet.”

Tony Dodemaide, Cricket Victoria CEO:

“The stats only tell part of the story, the part people in our community will miss the most will be Max ‘Tangles’ the person. 

“He was much loved by his teammates, by fans and everyone in Australian cricket and Australian sport. 

“He was 68 going on 17. He was always so vibrant, he loved innovation, loved gadgets and loved a laugh, a beer and a story.”

“He always spoke so fondly of the Baggy Green, one of his favourite stories was about when he presented his father with his Baggy Green cap.”

“There was a genuine emotion and authenticity about Max that we’ll all miss.

“The cricket community will miss him dearly.”

Justin Langer, Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach and former Australia batsman:

"I watched him as a youngster when he was playing but he’s the guy I aspired to be like as a public-speaker. He gave me great advice.

"He was a brilliant story-teller and made a great business out of it. He was a fantastic bloke and a really great Australian.

"He had that really unusual bowling action that we all tried to copy as kids and then was a great story-teller after his career, a brilliant speaker.

"As a young Australian cricketer and then in my post-career, he was someone I aspired to be like."

Bob Massie, former Australia fast-bowler and teammate of Walker: 

“He was just a really down-to-earth, humourous guy. He was never lost for words and was just great fun. 

“When he got on the cricket field, he was just so whole-hearted and he didn’t have the greatest action in the world but it was pretty effective.”

Hugh Marks, Channel Nine CEO:

“At Nine and across the game we have lost a genuine hero of Australian cricket with Max Walker’s sad passing.

“He was terrific bowler as his Test record shows, but an even better bloke. He will be missed by the whole Nine family. 

“Larger than life on and off the field, a huge character with that laconic, laid-back approach to sport and life. Just a big, cuddly colourful bloke whom everyone really liked - his opponents just as much as the rest of us. 

“Max enjoyed that unique sense of humour made only in Australia, which shone like a beacon in his post-retirement commentary roles on Nine, his hilarious books and his famous ‘have a good weekend Mr Walker’ television advertisements. Max leaves an indelible signature on Australian cricket and its culture. He will be profoundly missed.”