A meeting with the legend
Peter Lalor of the Australian catches up with Doug Walters, the popular batsman from the 70s, who, as always, lives life to the fullest
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Bob Thomas/Getty Images
Peter Lalor of the Australian catches up with Doug Walters, the popular batsman from the 70s, who, as always, lives life to the fullest
The "new Bradman", the almost-mythical Dungog Doug, can be found most days in the front bar of the Great Northern. Bent over a beer, one eye on the horses and another on the cricket, he is rendered almost anonymous in the monochromatic half-light.
The locals call him "Freddie" and he engages in easy, quiet banter with them about the comings and goings of life at the village well. There's no aura or pretensions here. He doesn't hold court at the pub near his home in northern Sydney, just beer and languid conversation.
Phar Lap, the people's champion, is preserved behind glass in the Melbourne Museum. In much the same way Doug Walters, the larrikin cricketer, is preserved behind a beer glass at the pub, in situ, as it were.
You can pay homage during the extended visiting hours, but speak quietly and please don't touch the display.
Ashok Ganguly is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo