Colleagues, friends and fans have paid tribute to sports commentator and former Australian Test cricketer Max Walker, who has died aged 68 after a two-year battle with cancer.

Walker played 34 Tests for Australia between 1972-73 and 1977. He took 138 wickets at 27.47 and played 17 one-day internationals.

Sporting a handlebar moustache, the Tasmanian-born cricketer was a fan favourite nicknamed "Tangles" for his unusual bowling action.

A key figure into the launch of World Series Cricket in the late 1970s, Walker backed up quick legends Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

Max Walker

9NEWS sports presenter Ken Sutcliffe remembered Walker as a friend and talented sportsman who left "too early".

"I had to get the news two or three times for it to sink in, because he was larger than life," Sutcliffe said.

"He was very generous, very generous to other people, his attitude was if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.

"He loved his kids, loved his wife, he was uncomplicated.

"I don’t think he ever took himself too seriously."

Former teammate Keith Stackpole was one of the few people privy to Walker’s health battle.

"I had a phone call from him last Wednesday and he said come and visit me," Mr Stackpole said.

"He was pretty well prepared for what was around the corner.

"Not that he was jovial but he accepted things as they were and we had a pretty tearful afternoon, but very uplifting.

"Max’s had a great life and that’s what he said the other day he said ‘look I can’t complain, I’ve had a magnificent life.'"

After retiring from cricket in 1982, Walker embarked on a successful broadcasting career that began on radio and included numerous roles at Channel 9.

He read sports reports for Channel 9 Melbourne, worked as a commentator for the channel, hosted the Sunday Footy Show from 1993 until 1998, and hosted Nine's Wide World of Sports until 1999.

On his website, Walker had written of his love for cricket and his transition to commentating.

"I was very fortunate to make the transition from player to commentator within a week of retirement," he wrote.

"After four years of talking about the game on radio I was head hunted to join Richie Benaud and his team in the Nine booth.

"My involvement with the commentary team ended in 1991 with the birth of my daughter Alexandra. I had to make a choice between travelling the world, talking about cricket, or a family lifestyle. I chose the latter."

In 2011, he was named a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to cricket and to the community through his work with youth and social welfare organisations.

Max Walker displays his trademark bowling action in 2003. (AAP)

Walker was also a successful author, writing a number of popular books including How to Tame a Lion , How to Kiss a Crocodile and How to Hypnotise Chooks .

Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria also remembered Walker for his important contribution to "the success of the Australian teams".

"Max was an outstanding cricketer who played an important role in the emergence of successful Australian cricket teams in the 1970s," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said in a statement.

"The cricket world will be deeply saddened to hear of Max’s sudden passing. As a cricketer, with ball or bat in hand, Max was always fiercely competitive.

"On behalf of everyone at Cricket Australia our deepest sympathies go out to Max’s family, friends and all those in cricket who had the pleasure of dealing with him.

Max Walker celebrates after capturing a wicket against England at the MCG in 1975. (Getty)

Max Walker met the Queen in 1975. (Getty)