Former teammates acclaimed Eddie Barlow, who died on Friday, as the great motivator of South African cricket.

All-rounder Barlow played 30 Tests between 1961 and 1970 and was a pioneer of the aggressive approach that remains a cornerstone of South Africa's style of play.

"He taught us so much," former South African captain Trevor Goddard told Reuters from Somerset West in the Cape.

"His enthusiasm just bubbled out, it was natural with him. He was an absolute joy."

Goddard said Barlow relied on more than talent and skill.

"It's not just talent that counts, it's a lot of guts and fight and Barlow had all that," Goddard said.

"Although we used to pull his leg about his bowling he wasn't the worst bowler and in the slips he caught most of the chances that came his way. He was truly a great all-rounder." Barlow will be best remembered for the role he played in South Africa's drawn series in Australia in 1963-64.

"Someone said he wouldn't make a run in Australia, he sort of proved them wrong, " said Goddard, South Africa's captain on that tour.

Opener Barlow scored 209 in the second match of the tour, against a Western Australia Combined side in Perth who included Graham McKenzie and Richie Benaud.

He made 114 in his only innings in the drawn first Test in Brisbane, and 109 and 54 in the second Test in Melbourne which Australia won by eight wickets.

His 201 in the fourth Test in Adelaide was part of a stand of 341 scored in 283 minutes with Graeme Pollock, who scored 175.

Barlow then ripped through Australia's middle order in their second innings, taking three for six from five overs, and scored an unbeaten 47 as South Africa won by 10 wickets to level the series.

Fast bowler Peter Pollock said South Africa had been written off before the tour.

"The Aussies said, 'Don't come- nobody's going to come and watch you'," he said.

Pollock said Barlow's performance was an important factor in confounding Australia's preconceptions.

"The tour was threatened, but right at the start Eddie scored that double hundred," he said. "He was the classic example of a guy applying what he had.

"He wasn't a Graeme Pollock, but he elevated himself into that sort of league by his application, and that was as a bowler, as a batsman, and as a fielder.

"His Test record shows that he only took 40 wickets, but they were all vital wickets. In any set of circumstances he would roll up his sleeves and come roaring in.

"He was able to swing the ball, and he had a very good slower ball."

Pollock said Barlow's habit of practising what he preached earned him added respect among his teammates. "He always talked a strong and good game, but he also put it into practice when he went out there," Pollock said.

"He led from the front and he was able to do that because he opened the batting.

"He was very good at taking young players and influencing them, he was hugely influential."

Pollock said Barlow brought innovative thinking to the South African team.

"He was one of the first guys who hit short balls over point or over gully," he said. "He understood that the batsman's job is to make runs fast.

"That's what typified his cricket, and it had an influence because he was a strong character."

The death of Barlow was tinged with poignance for 74-year-old Goddard.

"Both my opening partners are gone now, Jackie (McGlew) went a couple of years ago, and now Eddie," Goddard said. "I batted with those two guys for most of my career."

McGlew died in 1998.