Australia is today mourning the loss of former test cricketer and sports commentator Max Walker, has passed way at the age of 68 following a post-retirement battle with cancer.

A colourful character, Walker found fame by playing 34 tests and 17 one-day internationals for our national cricket team between the 70s and 80s, with his strange bowling action earning him the nickname ‘Tangles’.

However, Walker’s sporting talents weren’t limited to the cricket pitch, having played 85 VFL games with Melbourne between 1967 and 1972, and even earning a vote for the competition’s coveted Brownlow Medal in 1968.

Following his retirement from cricket, Walker forged a career in the media industry.

He started out calling cricket on radio for the ABC, and was also part of the commercial radio cricket coverage run by 2UE and 3AK.

Walker’s first TV appearances date back to 1982, when he was the cricket expert on Channel Seven’s World of Sport. He then moved to Channel Nine, where he reported sport on the network’s national nightly news bulletin. Walker also hosted Nine’s The Sunday Footy Show from 1993 to 1998, as well as the network’s Wide World of Sports program until it was cancelled in 1999. He was also a commentator for Channel Nine’s cricket broadcasts between 1986 and 1991.

Furthermore, Walker was an accomplished author with 14 books to his name, which included The Wit of Walker, How to Kiss a Crocodile and How to Puzzle a Python.

Walker also featured in a number of ads throughout his lifetime for brands including Tooheys, Aerogard and Mazda.