Peter Walker (cricketer)

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Peter Walker
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Left-arm bowler
tests = 3
test runs = 128
test bat avg = 32.00
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 52
test balls = 78
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 5/-
FCs = 469
FC runs = 17650
FC bat avg = 26.03
FC 100s/50s = 13/92
FC top score = 152*
FC balls = 58125
FC wickets = 834
FC bowl avg = 28.63
FC 5s = 25
FC 10s = 2
FC best bowling = 7/58
FC catches/stumpings = 697/-
debut date = 9 June
debut year = 1960
last date = 7 July
last year = 1960
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/22276.html

Peter Michael Walker (born February 17, 1936, Clifton, Bristol) is a former English cricketer who played in three Tests in 1960.

Peter Walker was a tall right-handed middle-order batsman, a left-arm bowler who varied his pace between medium-paced seamers and slow spinners, and a spectacularly good close catcher, specialising in fielding at short-leg. Born in England but educated partly in South Africa, he played all his county cricket for Glamorgan. For a few years at the beginning of his cricket career, he also played during the UK winters for the South African provincial sides, Transvaal and Western Province.

As a batsman, Walker made 1,000 runs in a season 11 times, often seeming to do well when his colleagues faltered. But in 17 years of first-class cricket he made only 13 centuries and his career average of 26 runs per innings reflects soundness rather than flair. His bowling was effective more than penetrating, but in 1961 he took 101 wickets to achieve the all-rounder's double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets, and he was not far short in 1959 and 1962. As a fielder, he ranks among the best of all time: he took 697 catches in 469 career matches, and his 73 catches in 1961 – to go alongside his 1000 runs and 100 wickets – is the third highest figure for a fielder in a single English cricket season, after Walter Hammond and Mickey Stewart.

Walker was picked for three Tests against the weak South African cricket team that toured England in 1960; he batted well down the order in all three games and hardly bowled at all, but probably did well enough to have expected further chances. But at a time of batting riches for England and spin competition from David Allen, Ray Illingworth and Fred Titmus, he never got back into contention once dropped.

He stayed with Glamorgan until 1972 when, after being passed over for the captaincy, he retired to become a cricket writer and broadcaster. For many years, he introduced the BBC coverage of the Sunday League and commentated too.

More recently, he was chief executive of the Cricket Board of Wales and was responsible for the development of the National Cricket Centre for Wales at Glamorgan's home ground at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.