Cricket: Walker get his chance to show captaincy talents

By RICHARD BOOCK

Brooke Walker, no stranger to uncharted territory, was handed a new challenge yesterday when he was named captain of the Auckland cricket team.

The 24-year-old leg-spinner has taken over the role from Dion Nash, who is expected to be on international duty for most of the season, and Blair Pocock, who has shifted to Australia.

Auckland coach and convener of selectors Tony Sail said Walker was highly respected by his peers for his determination and work ethic.

He said he was an obvious choice, despite not having had any previous captaincy experience.

"Dion has the essential qualities required of the captain, and it was felt this integral role needed to be performed by a player who would be consistently available for selection," he said.

"Brooke's a natural leader. He's played a lot of cricket for his age, and we're more than happy about his ability to cope with the responsibilities - even though he hasn't much experience as a captain.

"He's a gutsy player with an unwavering work ethic, and he's totally committed to the future success of the Auckland Aces."

Plucked out of relative obscurity to join the 1999 New Zealand team in England, Walker was rushed into last season's test team after an injury to spinner Daniel Vettori.

He made his first appeanace against South Africa at Bloemfontein.

Chosen as the Auckland Cricketer of the Year at the end of last season, the Howick-Pakuranga club player has played four tests and seven one-day internationals.

In the process he has earned himself a reputation as a developing wrist-spinner; a solid late-order batsman, and a superb cover fieldsman.

He first played for Auckland as a 20-year-old in the 1997-98 season, taking eight for 107 against a Canterbury side that included nine internationals.

In 40 first-class games for Auckland he has impressed as one of the country's brightest domestic players, taking 92 wickets at 32.27, and scoring a century and a couple of fifties.

Walker, who departed yesterday with the New Zealand A team for the Buchi Babu tournament in India, might still be required for test or ODI duty in the coming months, either in Pakistan or on the subsequent tour of Australia.

Sail said that as Vettori had now returned to the New Zealand side, it was reasonable to assume that Walker would be more available to play for Auckland.

"The biggest issue for us was the question of how the captaincy might affect Brooke's individual performance, and whether he could cope with the pressure of bowling himself at the right time, and taking himself off at the right time.

"But he's assured us he's up to the challenge, and we think he is too."