Matthew Walker (Kent)

Middle order batsman Matthew Walker has been at Kent CCC since completing his A-levels at King's School, Rochester. Here, the former England U19 captain looks back over his thirteen year career.

What are your earliest memories of playing at Kent?
I remember playing the odd second team game and feeling so out of place. You would turn up in pre-season and in those days it was a bit us and them with the younger and senior players. It was the way it was; you accepted it and knew your place. You went about your business pretty quietly and felt your way in. Although I had played a few second team games when I was at school, I hadn’t prepared for life at Kent. It just felt such a big place to be.

Can you remember your first-class debut?
One thing that sticks in my mind about my debut was being cleaned up fielding bat pad. It was against Durham and Mark Saxelby was batting – a big left hander. Macca (Martin McCague) bowled a pretty juicy half volley and it was despatched straight through my helmet grill and into my face. It was lucky because it hit just the other side of the eye – I had a nice little shiner for a while.

And your first one-dayer?
I was so exited about playing in my first Sunday game. It was full house at Canterbury and I just didn’t want it to stop. I got thirty odd and was playing quite well before I got out. It was like being back at school – I was just enjoying it so much. I was completely lost in the moment and when I got out I was so disappointed – I just wanted to go out and bat again.

When did you first think that you could be around a while as a professional cricketer?
The first time I though I could stick around on the circuit was after scoring my first hundred at the Oval (1994). It was against a good attack and on a Test ground. Up to then I thought I’d played ok but you always come up against someone who you thought was a bit quick, or weren’t sure which way they turned the ball, but there at the Oval against a decent attack and Stewie behind the stumps. Playing against England players, and I was not just holding my own, I was smacking it around the park. I felt I belonged after that.

Who was the best player you have shared a dressing room with?
On talent alone, I think Hoops (Carl Hooper) was the best player I played with. When he fancied it, there was no one like him. I had the pleasure of batting with Hoops quite a lot early on in my career. Batting with him - I felt so irrelevant in the big scheme of things. I just felt I had a long, long way to go in the world of cricket if I want to do anything proper. He made the game look so easy – a number of times I’ve been at the other end and watched him destroy attacks. It was a case of just getting a single to get him back on strike. It was almost like he would decide to score a hundred on given day – at the drop of a hat.

What’s the closest you have come to playing for your country?
The closest I got to playing for England was probably in 2001. I had my strongest ever start to a season – including my best one-day hundred v Essex chasing down a total in the B&H. I did well in that competition and got some runs in the first championship game as well. Matt Fleming who was captain then kept saying that I was close and needed a couple more scores to get into the squad for the NatWest Series.

What has been the toughest part of your career?
My lowest point in professional cricket was probably my fourth or fifth year. I’d had a bit of first team cricket, and was dropped and managed to work my way back into the team in the second half of the year but just couldn’t get it right. It was one of those summers where nothing seemed to go right. Having played a bit and got a taste of what first team cricket is like and then finding yourself out of it with no easy way back. I think every player goes through stages like that where you are not sure which way to hold the bat. I think that was the moment I doubted myself and my ability. The older you get, the more experienced you become and you deal with things better. Being dropped toughens you up.

And the highpoint?
I think the last few years have been the highpoint of my career because I’ve finally found my game. I feel I’m playing as well as ever and am enjoying coming into work as much as I ever have.

Which players have helped you along the way?
Alan Wells was the first guy to talk to me about batting. Not so much on the technical side, but from a mental side – that really helped and was interesting. Getting my personal life in order – mine was a bit all over the place – also helped. I enjoyed the high life and that side of things and it obviously affected my cricket. But settling down and having a family gave me more balance in my life and cricket stopped being the be all and end all.

What piece of advice would you give to a young cricketer?
No matter how your day goes in cricket – whether you get nought or a hundred, keep your emotional line on a level. Jimmy Cook said that and he was right.

What has been the biggest change, on or off the field, since you started playing for Kent?.
I think the major change since I started my career, is the game becoming so much more professional. When I started playing there was a beer culture with people playing hard and looking to have a good time. That has pretty much gone with fitness plans now and doing laps and stuff after a game. Having said that, at Kent we still try to get the guys from the opposition in the dressing room for a drink one evening after a day’s play.