Max Walker

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Max Walker
Australia (Aus)
Max Walker
Batting style Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type Right-arm fast-medium (RFM)
Tests ODIs
Matches 34 17
Runs scored 586 79
Batting average 19.53 9.87
100s/50s 0/1 0/0
Top score 78* 20
Overs bowled 1682.2 167.4
Wickets 138 20
Bowling average 27.47 27.30
5 wickets in innings 6 0
10 wickets in match 0 N/A
Best bowling 8/143 4/19
Catches/stumpings 12 6/0

As of January 4, 2006
Source: Cricinfo.com

For the actor, see Max Walker (actor).

Maxwell Henry Norman Walker (born September 12, 1948 in Hobart, Tasmania) is a former Australian cricketer and VFL/AFL footballer. He currently works as a media commentator and motivational speaker.

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[edit] Football career

Walker attended The Friends' School, Hobart and started his sports career when he played Australian rules football with the Melbourne Football Club from 1967 to 1972. He was a big ruckman and defender who played 85 games and booted 23 goals. He only played football at VFL level, never playing locally in Tasmania. After his foray in football he moved to cricket.

[edit] Cricket career

Walker then moved to cricket and played 70 first-class games for Victoria and 38 Tests for Australia, taking 138 wickets as a medium-fast bowler. He also played in 29 ODI's as well as World Series Cricket from 1977 to 1979. His strange bowling action, particularly the way he moved his feet, earned Walker the nickname of "Tangles" or "Tanglefoot".

[edit] Media career

Once he retired from cricket, Walker became a big celebrity on television and radio. He appeared on the Sunday Footy Show as a panellist, and also hosted the Nine Network's Nine's Wide World of Sport program until it was cancelled in 1999. He was also a commentator for international cricket matches.

Walker is also a writer, and has written many light hearted books including The Wit Of Walker, How To Kiss A Crocodile and How To Puzzle A Python. Today, Walker is prominent on the public speaking circuit, and in 2005 made a rare TV appearance on the Nine Network's sports show Any Given Sunday, hosted by James Brayshaw.

Walker has also been parodied by The Twelfth Man, on the 1994 album Wired World of Sports II. It follows Walker through a day at his job at the Nine Network in which he is involved in an assault on co-host Ken Sutcliffe in order to increase his chances of being included on the cricket commentary team. Also, there is a reference to Walker's book publishing when on the album Billy Birmingham (as Walker) remarks, "Have you got my latest book, Alligators and Arseholes? What about Dingoes and Dropkicks?"

He is a supporter of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League.

[edit] External links