Emotional tributes flow for Australian cricket great who died after a battle with cancer - as teammates remember him as sporting trailblazer

• Test cricket legend Graeme Watson lost his battle with cancer on Friday 
•  Former Aussie test captain Ian Chappell penned an emotional obituary 
•  He shared fond memories of his 'generous' and 'all-rounder' teammate  

An Australian cricket legend who lost his battle with cancer has been remembered in emotional tributes. 

Test cricket great Graeme Watson passed away in his home town of Burradoo, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, on Friday. 

He was remembered as a 'genuine all-rounder' and sporting trailblazer in an emotional tribute written by former Australian test captain Ian Chappell for Nine. 

He remembered the cricketing legend as the first man to represent three states in the Sheffield Shield, playing with Victoria, Western Australia and NSW.   

While playing Shield cricket for Victoria, Watson had also juggled a VFL career with the Melbourne Demons and won the 1964 grand final.

He was forced to end his footy career in 1965 after suffering two serious breaks to his jaw.  

Watson was selected to make his test debut for Australia just one year later before another series of injuries almost ended his career.   

Chappell noted Watson had been his roomate on a South Africa tour in 1966-67 and revealed the bowler injured his ankle in his debut test match. 

He said this left Watson's leg in a plaster and resulted in drunken late-night crutch races being held at Deals Hotel in East London. 

Chappell also shared that Watson was nicknamed 'Beatle' as he wore his hair long like The Beatles band members.

Watson (pictured) was remembered as an 'all-rounder' cricketer and generous man  

He reflected on Watson's 'near death experience' after an incident at the MCG in the Rest of the World series of 1971-72.  

Watson was struck in the nose by a loose full-toss delivered by Tony Greig and was taken to hospital bleeding profusely. 

Chappell wrote: 'It was only on that 1972 tour when I met one of his nurses at a social function that I found out Beatle had actually stopped breathing for a while when he was in hospital.'

'It was typical of Beatle to say very little about the incident; he made light of any injury and at times was too brave for his own good.' 

Watson played five tests and two one-day internationals for Australia during his 13-year career and made a brief cameo with the rogue World Series Cricket in 1997.

Chappell also reflected on his teammate's successful personal and professional life outside of sport.   

He fondly remembered being in the official party at Watson's first wedding which was also attended by then Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt.  

Watson even found success as an architect and was involved in designing the Sydney Olympic precinct. 

Chappell described the cricket legend as 'generous' until the end.  

'His last public act was a selfless one as usual. Even in struggling health he offered to help the Southern Highlands District Cricket association raise funds for junior development,' Chappell wrote. 

Watson hosted a sold-out dinner in early March which provided much needed funds for the association.

Watson is survived by his wife Jan and two daughters Laura and Louisa. 

Chappell (pictured) and Watson were roommates on a South Africa tour in 1966-67