The tales from his cricketing days will leave you in splits.
“You know, I once borrowed a kid’s bike beyond the boundary in the West Indies and rode it from third-man to fine-leg where my captain was moving me. Ian Chappell asked ‘Are you mad?’” he recalled.
Then came another nugget. “Bob Willis walked into a Test at the MCG with his pads and gloves on but without his bat. He was within 20 yards of the pitch when his partner asked, ‘What about your bat?’”
Doug Walters loved his life and cricket. In this exclusive interview with The Hindu , he shared many memories from his time — the ’60s and the ’70s — when he was a cult figure in Australia.
This country boy was a gifted batsman and a match-winner — in 74 Tests Walters made 5,357 runs at 48.26. And has a stand named after him at the SCG.
Walters, now 69, is a changed man. A chain smoker during his playing days — he gave up the habit six years ago after his health deteriorated — he has also significantly cut down on his alcohol intake.
It used to be different, “I could have my drinks till late night, play cards, and still get a hundred the next morning because my system was used to it. You know, I would have my sixth drink, and I would only be warming up.” Now he’s realised his habits had taken a toll on his body.
A strong cutter and puller, the attacking Walters’s back-foot play was captivating. Light of feet and brave of heart, he could also dance down the track.
His century in one session against England at Perth in the 1974-75 series was the stuff of folklore. Walters hooked fast bowler Willis for a six off the last ball of the day to reach the landmark. The Australian nonchalantly said “I should have got more. Ross Edwards left me without strike for 27 deliveries.”
Asked about the toughest paceman he has faced, Walters answered, “Jeff Thomson for sure. He used to bowl faster against us in the Sheffield Shield matches than he did against the Poms (Englishmen).”
Thomson, though, still put fear into England when the side visited in 1974-75. “I felt sorry for Colin Cowdrey. He made 30 odd at the MCG, was hit 30 times on the body by Thommo,” said Walters.
Then, Walters got up and imitated Thomson’s action. “You see, his back-leg was pointing to the top of his run-up, it was like someone throwing a javelin. I think he is the quickest in the history of the game.”
Ian Chappell was the best captain he played under — “He understood the players” — and left-arm spinners Derek Underwood and Bishan Bedi the toughest bowlers he faced. “Underwood was quicker through the air. Bedi had flight and turn.”
And Gary Sobers was the best cricketer Walters has seen in action. “Mate, he could do anything he wanted to on the cricket field.”
On his favourite Indian batsman, Walters said, “Sachin Tendulkar had remarkable success but he was more of an accumulator of runs. I liked VVS (Laxman). And that little man Gundappa (Viswanath), he was a wonderful batsman.”
The fast bowlers these days, he felt, were protected too much. “They are treated with kid gloves. They are pampered. And they break down too often. They don’t bowl enough long spells. And they don’t have the patience to be accurate.”
Walters observed the coach and the fitness trainers were a waste of time. “A Test team does not need a coach. We never had a coach. These fitness drills don’t help. You need to work on cricketing skills.”
On sledging, Walters said, “We used to say a few things in our days too. But you don’t say anything as a batsman. You are one against 11 and your partner isn’t going to help you.”
This blithe spirit still has a sparkle in his eyes.
