Thomas Walker (cricketer)

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Tom Walker (16 November 1762 – 1 March 1831) was an English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club and for Surrey.

Walker was born in Churt, near Frensham, Surrey. Known as "Old Everlasting", Walker was one of the greatest batsmen of the late 18th century and was also a very useful bowler who is believed to have been the originator of the roundarm bowling style. He failed to get the new style accepted during his career although he sowed the seeds of a bowling revolution that took place a generation later.

Walker was noted for his outstanding defensive play and was notoriously difficult to dismiss. On one occasion the frustrated bowler Lord Frederick Beauclerk is reported to have thrown down his hat and shouted: "You confounded old beast!" at Walker whose laconic response to his team mates afterwards was: "I don't care what he says" (see GDC, p.125).

According to David Frith, on another occasion he faced 170 deliveries from David Harris and scored one run.

In a match at Bishopsbourne Paddock on 8-12 August 1796, playing for White Conduit Club versus Kent, Walker came very close to scoring two centuries in the match and would have been the first known achiever of this feat if he had scored five more in his first innings. He made 95* and 102. White Conduit won the game by 164 runs.

His brothers Harry, who was a very good player, and John, an occasional player, also represented Surrey.

Walker died in Chiddingfold, Surrey.

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