Clifford Walker

Clifford Walker (26 June 1919 – 3 December 1992) was an English first-class cricketer, who played five matches for Yorkshire between 1947 and 1948, and then 121 matches for Hampshire between 1949 and 1954.

Early career with Yorkshire Walker was born in Golcar, near Huddersfield in Yorkshire. A product of Slaithwaite Cricket Club, he was the professional at Golcar Cricket Club in the Huddersfield League in 1943 and 1944. He played for Brighouse in the Bradford League in 1945, before joining Windhill as their professional in 1946. He joined Yorkshire in 1947, making his debut in first-class cricket against Hampshire at Bradford in the 1947 County Championship. After playing against Ireland, he made two further appearances in the 1947 County Championship, before appearing once the following season against Nottinghamshire. In five first-class matches for Yorkshire, he scored 268 runs at an average of 38.28, with a highest score of 91; with his right-arm medium pace bowling, he took two wickets.

Career with Hampshire Walker left Yorkshire at the end of the 1948 season, He made his first team debut for Hampshire against Glamorgan at Cardiff in the 1949 County Championship, making 27 appearances in his first season with Hampshire. he made his first two centuries, with scores of 103 not out against Glamorgan and 112 against Lancashire, as a result of which he gained his county cap. It was during the 1949 season that Walker would take his career best bowling figures with 5 for 40 against the Combined Services at Portsmouth, one of 22 wickets he took that season.

Walker's good form continued into 1950. He again passed a thousand runs for the season, with 1,225 runs from thirty matches, at an average of 28.28; he made a further two centuries during the season, Utilised again for his occasional medium pace bowling, For the third consecutive season, Walker passed a thousand runs in a season in 1951, scoring 1,027 from 28 matches at an average of 25.04; Following the retirement of wicket-keeper and opening batsman Neil McCorkell at the end of the 1951 season, Walker was chosen ahead of the 1952 season to fill the now vacant openers slot, which would see him partner Neville Rogers. At the beginning of July, a cracked rib ruled Walker out of action until late August. He struggled in his first season as an opening, scoring 317 runs at an average of 18.64 from eleven matches. From 27 matches in 1953, he scored 1,302 runs at an average of 36.16; After making three appearances for Hampshire in the 1954 County Championship, In 126 first-class matches for Hampshire, Walker scored 4,490 runs at an average of 27.26. Walker died in December 1992 in Lindley, Huddersfield.