Niel Walker

{{Short description|English cricketer}}

{{Similar names|Neil Walker (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Niel Walker

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Niel Alexander McDonald Walker

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|8|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Poona, British India

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1960|8|10|1895|8|22|df=yes}}

| death_place = Sheffield, England

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role =

| club1 = Europeans

| year1 = {{nowrap|1923/24–1926/27}}

| club2 = Derbyshire

| year2 = 1931–1936

| type1 = FC

| debutdate1 = 18 March

| debutyear1 = 1924

| debutfor1 = Europeans

| debutagainst1 = Hindus

| lastdate1 = 13 May

| lastyear1 = 1936

| lastfor1 = Derbyshire

| lastagainst1 = Kent

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 4

| runs1 = 48

| bat avg1 = 8.00

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 18

| deliveries1 = 204

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 38.50

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/12

| catches/stumpings1= 1/–

| date = February

| year = 2012

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/14/14824/14824.html CricketArchive

}}

Niel Alexander McDonald Walker (22 August 1895 – 10 August 1960) was a British army officer and a cricketer who played in tournaments in India and for Derbyshire.

Walker was born at Poona in the Bombay Presidency in British India. At the start of the First World War he was at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Sherwood Foresters on 12 May 1915.[http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/29159/supplements/4539/page.pdf The London Gazette, 11 May, 1915]

After the war Walker saw service in India, where he also took part in cricket tournaments. In 1924 he played for the Europeans in the Lahore Tournament, and in 1926 against a Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) touring side led by Arthur Gilligan. In 1927 and 1928 he played for the Europeans in the Sind Tournament. He was in England when he played for Derbyshire in 1931 against New Zealand. He played for Derbyshire again in the 1936 in their Championship winning season against Kent.

Walker was a right-hand batsman who played 6 innings in 4 first-class matches. His top score was 18 and his average 8. He was a right-arm medium pace bowler and took 2 wickets at an average of 38.5.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/14/14824/14824.html Niel Walker at CricketArchive]

Walker saw service in the Second World War and became a brigadier commanding 113 Infantry Brigade in April to June 1942.[http://www.generals.dk/general/Walker/Niel_Alexander_McDonald/Great_Britain.html The Generals of WWII]

Walker died at Sheffield, Yorkshire at the age of 65.