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Max Walker, the tangle-footed and rubber-armed Australia seamer of the 1970s, has died in Melbourne after succumbing to cancer. He was 68.A key member of the successful Australian Test teams led by Ian and Greg Chappell, Walker was also among the breakaway group of players who took part in Kerry Packers World Series Cricket from 1977 to 1979. Their stance fundamentally altered the shape of international cricket ever since.Walker played 34 Tests for Australia, bowling into the wind opposite Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in the memorable home summers of 1974-75 and 1975-76, when England and West Indies were laid to waste.He also stepped up notably on occasions when the aforementioned pair were injured or unavailable. Chief among these efforts were early in his career: a Test match against Pakistan in 1973 when he ran through the tourists opposite an ailing Lillee, and the West Indies tour later the same year when he led an undermanned bowling attack to one of the teams best overseas wins.Greg Chappell remembered Walker saying: My two most indelible memories of Tangles would be the tour of the West Indies in 1973 when Australia lost our spearheads Dennis Lillee and Bob Massie, meaning that Jeff Hammond and Max had to shoulder the burden of the bowling. The conditions were pretty tough and they werent really conducive to swing bowling, which was Maxs strength, but it was one of the earliest occasions where we became aware of reverse swing, and he was able to get the older ball to go Irish, which really helped our cause.We won that series and he was a big contributor to that victory. The other moment that I can still recall vividly was during the Centenary Test in 1977 when England had dismissed us for 130-odd and we needed something special, and we got it from Max. Tony Greig was always a big wicket, but when he sent Greigys off stump cart-wheeling, the roar from Tangles was louder than that of the crowd. I was in slips and it was almost frightening as he charged down the pitch with both arms in the air, roaring his delight.Hailing from west Hobart, where he lived until recruited to the Melbourne Football Club by the legendary coach Norm Smith, Walker became an instantly recognisable figure for his handlebar moustache and toothy grin. Later in life those features helped him become a popular commentator and entertainer; he published a string of comedic books and hosted Wide World of Sports.James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, paid tribute to Walker. Max was an outstanding cricketer who played an important role in the emergence of successful Australian cricket teams in the 1970s, he said. It was a golden era of Test Cricket under the captaincy of Ian and Greg Chappell, and Maxs medium fast bowling and his unmistakeable bowling action were a feature of those teams, and then in the late 1970s when he joined World Series Cricket.The cricket world will be deeply saddened to hear of Maxs sudden passing. As a cricketer, with ball or bat in hand, Max was always fiercely competitive. He was a genuine crowd favourite wherever he played - and nowhere more so than at his beloved MCG, where he had also played senior football prior to his Test debut.Tony Dodemaide, CEO of Cricket Victoria, spoke of Walkers contribution. Max was a positive and jovial character and devoted much of his life to playing and serving the game, during what many would call a revolutionary period for cricket, he said. At the completion of his playing career, Max charmed many on our TV screens as he built his career in the entertainment industry.Maxs contribution to the game was significant and at a time when cricket was undergoing significant changes, playing a critical role in World Series Cricket. A gentleman of his era, Max was able to be part of some moments that will be cherished forever in cricket history and will continue to inspire future generations.Hugh Marks, chief executive of Channel Nine, offered his thoughts about Walkers time in television At Nine and across the game we have lost a genuine hero of Australian cricket with Max Walkers sad passing, Marks said. 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.Ryan Suter Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Alex Stalock Wild Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/Jared-spurgeon-wild-jersey/ . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Mikko Koivu Jersey . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Joel Eriksson Ek Jersey . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury.SAN FRANCISCO -- For the third time in his career, Madison Bumgarner took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. For the third time, it slipped away.No worries, though.The San Francisco Giants are headed to the All-Star break with the best record in the majors and a comfortable lead in the NL West, so Bumgarner didnt seem bothered that he lost yet another bid at the milestone achievement.Bumgarner allowed Arizonas only hit to Jake Lamb with one out in the eighth inning and matched a career high with 14 strikeouts to lead the Giants over the Diamondbacks 4-0 on Sunday night.I dont think a one-hit shutout ever stings, Bumgarner said. It felt good. It felt good all the way around.Bumgarner (10-4) retired 25 of the 28 batters he faced, including two double plays, and walked one while going the distance for the third time this season.Lamb broke up Bumgarners bid with a lined single to right field. Lamb also reached on an error in the fifth when right fielder Gregor Blanco dropped a flyball.Beyond that, San Franciscos four-time All-Star was nearly untouchable while notching his fourth career one-hitter.He was on with all of his pitches and wasnt putting a lot of effort into it, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. He was on top of his game. I know hes thrown one-hitters before but this was as impressive as any of them.The Giants lefty fanned Arizonas first five hitters twice apiece, and the Diamondbacks didnt hit a ball out of the infield until Lambs fly ball in the fifth.After Lambs single in the eighth, Bumgarner got Brandon Drury to ground into an inning-ending double play.Rickie Weeks Jr. drew a leadoff walk in the ninth, but Bumgarner retired Nick Ahmed on an infield pop-up then got Jean Segura to ground into a game-ending double play.When you get through seven and youve got six more outs to get you feel like you have a pretty good chance, Bumgarner said. It hasnt worked out for me. Thats all right. Ill take the complete-game shutout anytime.San Francisco was attempting to become the first team with no-hitters in five consecutive seasons. Matt Cain threw a perfect game in 2012, Tim Lincecum no-hit the Padres in 2013 and 2014 and then-rookie Chris Heston had one in 2015.Bumgarner, who entered the game with the second-lowest ERA in the majors amongg qualifying pitchers, nearly got his in front of a sold-out crowd at AT&T Park while helping the Giants complete the series sweep in the final game in the majors before the All-Star break.dddddddddddd He dropped his ERA to 1.94 this season.The only pitch he was leaving over the plate was his curveball, but it was breaking so much the guys had a hard time pulling the trigger on it, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. He did what he wanted to do. The velocity wasnt high but location was outstanding.The Giants (57-33) have the best record in baseball at the break for just the second time in the San Francisco era. They also did it in 1993 with a 59-30 mark.Brandon Crawford drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and a two-run single in the seventh. Buster Posey added three hits including an RBI single in the first off Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley (3-5).BOCHY FAVORS FAN VOTINGGiants manager Bruce Bochy has expressed his disappointment in Crawford being left off the NL roster for the All-Star Game but is a firm believer in fans being included in the voting process. I think it gives every team, their fans, a chance to see one of their players, Bochy said. You can increase this roster another 10 players and somebodys still going to get snubbed.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: OF Hunter Pence (right hamstring surgery) is likely to begin a rehab assignment within the next week and could join the team when it returns to AT&T Park to begin a seven-game homestand on July 25. Were seeing light at the end of the tunnel, Bochy said. ... 2B Joe Panik (concussion) could be back with the big league club for either of the upcoming road series in Boston or New York. ... 3B Matt Duffy (strained left Achilles tendon) will resume running bases Monday. . INF Kelby Tomlinson was activated off the DL and optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: Arizona returns home and will open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.Giants: With four players already headed to San Diego for the All-Star Game, the rest of the team will join them at Petco Park to begin a three-game series with the Padres on Friday. ' ' '