Stackpole calls it quits as ABC commentator

Keith Stackpole, the former Australian opener, has given up his commentary position with the ABC. Stackpole, 64, had been part of ABC Radio's coverage for more than two decades, but announced that yesterday's clash between Victoria and Queensland would be his last.

Stackpole has also worked for the Seven and Nine television networks, and is expected to continue with his newspaper columns. One of his fellow commentators at the ABC, Dan Lonergan, spoke about Stackpole to The Sydney Morning Herald. "He commentated the way he played the game: on the front foot and aggressively," he said. "There will be a lot of people out there who will miss him, but Keith has obviously decided it's time for someone else to have a go."

Stackpole played his first Test in 1965-66 as a middle-order batsman who bowled legbreaks, but was pushed up the order by Bill Lawry. Stackpole represented Australia in 43 matches, scoring 2807 runs with seven hundreds at 37.