By Terry Maddaford
For someone who has never been further than Fiji on holiday, a trip to England is, Brooke Walker admits, something he is struggling to comprehend.
Named yesterday as one of four players to will leave on Friday to join the New Zealand cricket team for the remainder of their British tour, Walker said his selection came like a bolt from the blue.
As one of seven standby players named at the time of the World Cup selection, the 22-year-old Auckland legspinner was obviously on the shortlist.
Yesterday he was shuffled from that list to the passenger list for Friday's flight along with Matthew Bell, Shayne O'Connor and Martyn Croy.
Their selection spells the end of the tour after the World Cup for Gavin Larsen, Carl Bulfin and Matthew Hart.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic," said Walker last night. "I heard a few days ago it was happening and have had to keep quiet.
"Now I can't wait. I've been keeping my fitness up with some running and I've been to the nets three times a week for some bowling."
And a bit of batting. Walker, who follows Kerry Walmsley from the Macleans College First Xl on to the international stage, started out as an opening and top-order batsman before being bewitched by Australian legspin legend Shane Warne.
"We were getting smashed around in a school game so I gave [legspin] a go. I got one wicket - not a particularly good one - but was encouraged by Rowan Armour to stick at it."
The rest is now history.
A member of the second New Zealand Academy, in 1997, Walker continued to prosper. Bell, O'Connor and Croy were all inductees in the first academy.
Before Walker leaves he has to sit two bachelor of business studies examination papers at Massey University.
"It will be hard concentrating on those as I have to be in Christchurch on Thursday afternoon," he said.
"Really, they are not on my mind any more."
Croy beat off the challenge of two other Northern Districts products - incumbent captain Robbie Hart and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, now with Canterbury - for the back-up wicketkeeping role.
"Martyn Croy performed consistently with the gloves during the home season and the selectors believe he is capable of taking the next step," said selection panel convener Ross Dykes.
"Matthew Bell will likely partner Matthew Horne in opening the innings, with Nathan Astle dropping down the order."
Cricket: Leggie Walker gets NZ call-up
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