Paul Ian Walter (born 28 May 1994) is an English cricketer who plays for Essex County Cricket Club. He is a left-handed all-rounder who bowls left-arm medium-fast. He made his Twenty20 debut for Essex, on 24 June 2016, against Hampshire.[1] He made his List A debut for Essex in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup on 10 May 2017.[2]

Paul Walter
Personal information
Full name
Paul Ian Walter
Born (1994-05-28) 28 May 1994 (age 30)
Billericay, Essex, England
NicknameTall Paul
Height201 cm (6 ft 7 in)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingLeft-arm medium-fast
RoleAll rounder
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2016–presentEssex (squad no. 22)
2022–2024Manchester Originals
2023/24–presentBrisbane Heat
First-class debut13 August 2016 Essex v Derbyshire
List A debut10 May 2017 Essex v Sussex
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 53 16 150
Runs scored 2,344 253 2,027
Batting average 36.06 25.30 20.06
100s/50s 2/13 0/1 0/7
Top score 141 50 78
Balls bowled 1,990 368 1,682
Wickets 31 14 101
Bowling average 37.38 31.00 24.93
5 wickets in innings 0 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 3/20 4/37 3/20
Catches/stumpings 24/– 7/– 76/–
Source: CricketArchive, 18 December 2024

Originally taking his place in the Essex team mostly as bowler, and batting at number 10 on his first-class debut,[3] Walter later was picked as a number three batsman and even as an opener in limited-overs cricket. In the 2021 season he found a regular place in the middle-order for Essex in the County Championship, being notable for his consistency. He maintains an average of around 40. On the other hand his bowling was rarely used.

He started the 2022 season in the second XI with new signing Matt Critchley taking his spot in the middle order. Returning to the first team after injury to Dan Lawrence, he made 93 against Northants to help save the match and secure his place in the side. In May 2022, in the 2022 County Championship, Walter scored his maiden century in first-class cricket, with 141 against Yorkshire.[4]

Walter signed with the Brisbane Heat for BBL13, where he quickly became a cult hero, making key contributions with bat and ball in a number of games, notably winning the Player of the Match Award in wins against the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers.

Walter played in the final against the Sixers, as the Heat took out the title for the first time since BBL02, becoming only the third team to win the title on multiple occasions, after the Sixers and Perth Scorchers.

Walter took 17 wickets in his 11 matches, with only his teammates Xavier Bartlett (20) and Spencer Johnson (19) having taken more wickets in the tournament.

References

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  1. ^ "NatWest t20 Blast, South Group: Essex v Hampshire at Chelmsford, 24 June 2016". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Royal London One-Day Cup, South Group: Essex v Sussex at Chelmsford, May 10, 2017". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Derbyshire vs. Essex". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Paul Walter ends long wait for century, to leave Joe Root waiting in the wings". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
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