March 4, 2015
There’s a saying that if you stay in the South Burnett long enough, you’ll eventually get to meet just about everyone.
Politicians, sports stars, musicians … all seem to visit our local towns at one time or another.
On Wednesday night it was the turn of former champion Australian batsman Doug Walters to pay a visit.
Walters was a guest at Kingaroy’s Carrollee Hotel, entertaining drinkers in the front bar and signing memorabilia.
When southburnett.com.au wandered in, it seemed fitting that the great batsman was sitting on a barstool, beer in hand.
Tales of his drinking have been swapped for years, probably growing larger and more legendary with each re-telling.
ESPN’s CricInfo website explains Walters’ reputation thus: “Small, cheeky, popular and multi-skilled, he would drink all night without getting drunk then wipe sleep from his eyes to make a shot-laden century or take a crucial wicket or stunning catch – sometimes, in folklore at least, on the same day.”
Walters was born in Dungog in country NSW. His bio on CricInfo continues: “(He) was a knockabout who disliked training and going to bed early, and favoured drinking, smoking, solitaire and cribbage.”
This lifestyle ensures plenty of tales, which he was willing to share with the crowd at the Carrollee.
Walters knockabout reputation also ensured adulation from the public, including the creation of the famous (or infamous) “Doug Walters Stand” on the Hill at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He made his first class debut at the age of 17 and scored a half-century, despite facing the towering West Indian bowler Wes Hall (now probably best-known in Kingaroy for smashing a cricket ball over the peanut silos in 1962).
His Test Debut was against England at the ‘Gabba in 1965, hitting an incredible 155 runs before being caught behind by Jim Parks.
Walters played in 74 Tests, finishing with a batting average of 48.26. He notched up 15 centuries, 33 half-centuries and took 43 catches.
He was also handy with the ball as a medium pace bowler, taking 49 Test wickets and finishing with the impressive figures of 7/89 in one match.
Walters retired from all forms of the game in 1981.
The 69-year-old travelled from Sydney for his appearance at the Carrollee, and will then be going over to the Sunshine Coast and up to Gladstone before heading back home.
