Walker played 34 Tests between 1972 and 1977, taking 138 wickets at 27.47, including six five-wicket hauls, and 17 one-day internationals. He was the first Tasmanian to be picked for a Test since C.L. Badcock in 1936. Affectionately nicknamed Tangles for his wrong footed action, Walker also played 93 matches in six years with the Melbourne Football Club. Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin said he was saddened to hear that one of Australian cricket’s most loved and celebrated icons had passed away.

“Max Walker never forgot his Tasmanian roots and always made the time to come back to his birthplace at every opportunity, including visiting Blundstone Arena and spending time signing books in the Cricket Tasmania Library,” he said.

Mr Gaggin said Walker played some of his early cricket with North Hobart before shooting to international cricketing success.

“He was always a larger than life character who had a great rapport with crowds worldwide and was loved and admired by every kid who grew up in the 1970s,” he said.

Former Australian Test captain and teammate of Walker, Greg Chappell, said Walker was a man with a big heart who was very likeable.

“Tangles was one of the great fellows. A big loveable bear of a man who parlayed his talent, first as a footballer turned cricketer, and then with his bonhomie and ability to tell a good yarn, to set himself up for a wonderful career after cricket,” he said.

“He’d be the first to tell you it was a pretty good result for someone who trained as an architect but never really designed anything apart from what he would describe as a ‘few chicken coops’.”

Cricket Tasmania chief executive David Johnston said it was a sad day for sport in Tasmania.

“Max was a wonderful ambassador for the state and never forgot his roots,” he said. “He was always very generous with his time and came back to Tasmania on a number of occasions quite regularly and volunteered with lots of charities and sporting clubs.”

Mr Johnston said Waker always regarded himself as a Tasmanian, despite not being able to represent his state at the time. “In the modern day era he was a pioneer ... for Max to go ahead and go to Victoria and play for Australia was a real leading light,” he said. 

“I think he always considered himself to be a Tasmanian even though he was living in Melbourne … and was thrilled when we got into the national scene.”