Old faithful Walters ready to strike again
● Veteran Warriors quick back to bolster depleted squad
Warriors stalwart Basheer Walters is planning to lend his experience to a youthful bowling attack as the franchise looks to rebuild after the departure of some key players.
Walters, 33, who was out of contract for the 2018/2019 cricket season, cut a determined figure for Eastern Province last season as he put in a number of key performances in their domestic campaigns, which subsequently led to him being rewarded for his efforts.
Walters, who made his debut for Eastern Province in 2007, said while the squad had not managed to get together due to the national lockdown regulations, he was happy to be back in the mix.
“It’s always nice to be recognised for your efforts.
“But for me personally, this is just another opportunity to give back to the game that has given me so much,” the rightarm quick said.
“I played for EP last season and I fell in love with the game again.
“It’s not that I lost my love for the game, but there was not a lot of pressure on me and I think that gave me the freedom to go and express myself,” he said.
Walters said he knew he had to put in a lot of hard work in an effort to turn his fortunes around.
“After losing our contracts, I was chatting to Aya Gqamane and Clyde Fortuin.
“I told them we could either sit around and be sad about not being re-signed, or we could go and work harder. I have worked very hard on my game over the last year and as they say, the hard work has paid off, but it doesn’t stop now.
“If anything, I now have to work harder,” Walters said.
Asked about the youthful makeup of the Warriors outfit, Walters said it was an exciting group with plenty of talent.
“We haven’t really got together to meet the new guys, but I know them and have played against them.
“We have signed some exciting young players.
“Coupled with the youth we already have, it makes for exciting times.
However, he stressed the importance of having experienced players to pass on the knowledge they have acquired over the years.
“We need some experience in the team and cannot only have a team consisting of youngsters.
“I think that was one of the reasons why I was brought in.
“It’s something I have been doing and giving back to the game as much as I can.
“Myself, Jon-Jon [Smuts] and Yaseen [Vallie] will now be seen as the more experienced guys in the team and it will be up to us to guide the young players in the right direction.
“In the past, it was always mine and [Andrew] Birch’s mission to guide and groom the young players into the side, and with him now retired, that responsibility falls on my shoulders.
“But I am more than ready to take on the challenge,” Walters said.
Having a good working relationship with head coach and former Proteas spinner Robin Peterson, Walters, who played two games for the Warriors in the four day competition last year, said “he is a fighter, a proper old-school cricketer who knows the struggle.
“I think that is why it is easier for me to relate to him because he has been there.
“He always comes with new ideas which test you as a player on various skillsets, which is good, and I look forward to the season ahead,” Walters said.