Max Walker - lion hearted tour of the West Indies 1972-73

Paul Ryan | May 14, 2023

Former Australian Test cricketer Max Walker passed away 28 September 2016 at the age of 68. He lived a full and loveable life.

Born in Hobart, Tasmania, Walker went on to play VFL Football for Melbourne Demons (85 games), Shield cricket for Victoria and Test cricket for Australia. 

He would often reflect on playing cricket for Australia, “My goodness, I’m a kid from Hobart Tasmania, what am I’m doing share a dressing room with Dennis Lillee, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Dougie Walters, Rodney Marsh, Ian Redpath, Keith Stackpole…..it was such a privilege.” 

Off the sports field Max Walker, affectionately known as Tangles because of his tangled bowling action of “right arm over left earhole” became a popular and infectious TV personality, author of 14 books, an engaging storyteller and a much sought after public speaker.

Many would remember growing up with Walker starring in the Aerogard TV ad.

Max Walker played 34 Tests for Australia taking 138 wickets at an average of 27.47 with best figures of 8 for 143 in the 6th Test of the 1974/75 Ashes Series against England. He took 5 wickets in an innings on 6 occasions.

He also played 17 One day Internationals for Australia capturing 20 wickets. 

Walker was also an integral part of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.

As a bowler, former Australia and Victorian teammate Keith Stackpole once said, "you think of 'Thommo' and Lillee as the tearaways whereas 'Tang' was a medium-pacer with the biggest heart I have come across on the cricket field.

Dennis Lillee, Max Walker, Jeff Thomson

Stackpole’s description was never more evident than on Australia’s 1972/73 tour to the Caribbean where they played 5 Tests against the West Indians.

Australia’s touring team included:

Batsman - Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Keith Stackpole, Doug Walters, John Benaud, Ian Redpath, Ross Edwards

Fast Bowlers – Dennis Lillee, Jeff Hammond, Bob Massie, Max Walker

Spinners – Kerry O’Keeffe, Terry Jenner, John Watkins, 

Wicket Keeper – Rod Marsh

The scheduling of the tour included 5 Tests, 10 tour games from 1 February to 26 April 1973 – 85 days.

Walker had only made his Test debut 34 days earlier in the 2nd Test against Pakistan at the MCG.at the age of 24.

Bowling first change behind Lillee and Thomson who was also on debut, Walker picked up 2 for 112 off 24 overs in the first innings and 3 for 39 off 14 in the second innings as Australia won by 92 runs.

Thomson’s debut was not as fruitful as his 0 for 100 off 17 overs and only bowling 2 overs in the second innings was hampered by a broken toe.

Before the Third Test in Sydney starting on 6th January 1973 the Australian touring squad to the West Indies had been announced so Max Walker entered the SCG to play his 2nd Test with a vote of confidence knowing he was heading off on his first Australian tour in the weeks ahead.

Again bowling first change this time behind Lillee and Bob Massie who’d replaced Thomson, Walker took 1 for 65 in Pakistan first innings of 360 and they had a lead of 26. Australia was bowled out for 184 in their 2nd innings which meant Pakistan need 158 to win the test match.

Lillee and Massie both took an early wicket and with his confidence booming Walker stood up and took 6 for 15 off 16 overs to bowl Pakistan out for 106 and help Australia win the Test by 52 runs.

In his first two Tests, Walker had taken 12 wickets and he was off to the West Indians.

Australian fast bowling stocks on the tour were inexperienced. Whilst Lillee had been playing Test cricket for 2 years, Massie only made his debut on the Ashes tour to England 8 months earlier, Walker had played 2 Tests and Jeff Hammond was yet to make his debut.

With three tour games before the First Test Massie found himself out of form and Australia went into the First Test with Lillee and Walker taking the new ball backed up by Hammond (on debut) and Kerry O’Keeffe as the main bowlers.

Australia batted first and scored 428 off 157 overs. West Indies replied with 428 off 124.5 overs.

Elevated with the new ball in hand, Walker relished in the responsibility bowling 39 overs (31% of team total) to take 6 for 114.

Max Walker bowling in the West Indies

The First test was drawn and it was, unfortunately, the only Test Australia’s spearhead Dennis Lillee was to play as he’d broken down with stress fractures of the back.

No replacement bowler was called for and with Massie’s poor form, Australia went into the next 4 Tests with Walker and Hammond as their new-ball bowlers, Greg Chappell and Doug Walters gentle mediums and leg spinners Kerry O’Keeffe and Terry Jenner. Ian Chappell and Keith Stackpole also rolled their arms over at times.

Keith Stackpole description of Walkers “biggest heart” was one of the major reasons Australia won the 5 Test series, 2 nil.

The 2nd test was drawn, Australia won the 3 and 4th Test and the 5th Test was drawn. 

With the bat skipper, Ian Chappell scored 542 runs at 77.43 and Doug Walters made 497 runs at 71 to lead the batting but it was Walker's bowling efforts that make for compelling reading.

First Test

6 for 114 off 39 overs and 0 for 8 off 6 – Walker bowled 28% of the overs Australia bowled in the test.

Second Test

5 for 97 off 51.4 overs and 0 for 1 off 4 overs – 32% of Australia’s overs.

Third Test

1 for 55 off 30 overs and 3 for 43 off 25 overs – 24% of Australia’s overs.

Fourth Test

1 for 77 off 38 overs and 4 for 45 off 23.4 overs – 35% of Australia’s overs.

Fifth Test

5 for 75 off 37 overs and 1 for 24 off 17 overs – 30% of Australia’s overs.

In the 5 Tests, Max Walker bowled 271.1 overs, 83 maidens and took 26 wickets for 539 runs at an average of 20.73.

Jeff Hammond took 15 wickets and Terry Jenner 13 in the Tests.

In the tour games, Walker also bowled 132 overs and took 23 wickets.

For the tour over 85 days to the West Indies, Max Walker bowled 403 overs took 49 wickets for 909 runs at an average 18.55.

In Max Walkers first 7 Tests played between 29 December 1972 and 26 April 1973 he took 38 wickets at 20.26.

He went on to take another 100 Test wickets and played his last Test at the Oval in the 5th Test of the 1977 Ashes Series against England.

A big heart indeed, “have a good weekend Mr Walker.“

1972-73 Australian Tour to West Indies scorecards and statistics