Cricket: Overlooked Walker finds solace in Aces captaincy

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Brooke Walker is more than happy to take up the reins as captain of the Auckland Aces this season, but admits it has not softened the blow of being overlooked for New Zealand.

"Sure, it refocuses my interest," the 24-year-old said. "But I would still like to play for New Zealand. That's everyone's ambition."

Walker has played four tests and eight one-day internationals since his first-class debut for Auckland in 1997.

Inheriting the Auckland captaincy when Dion Nash returned to the national side, Walker has firm ideas on what he wants from the season.

"Silverware is the only word on our minds," Walker said. "Auckland have been the under-achievers - for a lot of reasons - and we want to do something about that."

Coach Tony Sail echoed those sentiments.

"The players are sick of under-achieving. If we play to our potential we will win. If we don't, it's on my head," Sail said.

Walker was preferred ahead of returning opening batsman Matt Horne, last season's Otago captain.

"We wanted Matt Horne to accept the new environment he was coming into without the burden of captaincy," Sail said.

With Horne back home, and Mark Richardson also set to return when free of international duties, Auckland will have almost a home-grown team. Llorne Howell is likely to be the only outsider.

As a 10-year-old, Walker fancied himself as a top-order batsman and medium-pace bowler.

In his last year at school he turned to leg spinning. The rest, as they say, is history.

Called in as a replacement when Daniel Vettori was invalided out of last year's South African tour, Walker appeared in his first test in Bloemfontein. He played his first ODI on the same tour - in Benoni - and his most recent was against Pakistan in Sharjah this year.

His most recent test appearance was against Zimbabwe in the Boxing Day test at the Basin Reserve.

With the bat, Walker has a useful first-class average of 22.17 from 60 innings, including a century. With the ball, he is just eight shy of 100 wickets.

The number 107 is significant. His highest score is 107 not out (against Wellington two seasons ago) and his best bowling is 8-107 (against Canterbury in his 1997-98 debut season).

Walker regards himself as an allrounder. His only issue in taking up the captaincy is when, and how much, he should bowl.

"I wasn't bowling too well coming into the season. But I reassessed things last week and feel more comfortable with my bowling and the captaincy."

While Walker will be in charge at Devonport Domain on Monday, when Auckland play Wellington in a three-day warm-up to the State Insurance competition, he will not be required for Friday's season-opening State Max League.

Horne is likely to lead the team in the three-day tournament at North Harbour Stadium.