5357 runs @48.26 is a very good record but perhaps he was overshadowed by Greg Chappell . I have heard EAS Prasanna say that Walters was one of the best players of spin of that era but I haven't heard much about him when the pantheon of Aussie greats is discussed.
[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] [MENTION=129939]wrongun[/MENTION]
He might be under-rated internationally but he's a much loved, cult figure to older generations of cricket fans- perhaps a bit forgotten by youngsters.
He's my dads favourite batsman- because of his runs but also his commitment to an attacking, entertaining style. Doug once scored 100 runs in a single test match session (normal length) at the WACA- hooking Bob Willis for six off the final ball of the session to bring it up! He was that kind of player- he knew everyone wanted that sixer & he took on a great bowler & hooked the bouncer, took the risk rather than play it safe.
He smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish but treated everyone so well, never put a foot wrong off the field or on it.
Was a real character though, behaved the same whether he got 100 or a duck- never really trained. Rod Marsh used to get a shock if Walters ever turned up for nets- even then he famously didn't go
in the nets, just chucked a ball up to himself 3 times, missed it completely the first two times (by now all players were watching him in shock), middled the third & then declared he was seeing them much better now and wandered away again.
He once borrowed a bicycle from the crowd to get from end to end after Chappell made him field at 3rd man from both ends (punishment for sleeping in)!
I'd have to check but I think perhaps his results away in England weren't as stellar as his other venues, so that may be the only thing really holding him back from legend status.
So a well loved fellow- the kind who made a whole career as an after dinner speaker & beer company spokesman after cricket. But unlikely to push past the likes of Border & S Waugh for the middle order spots in an ATG Oz team.
