Paul Walter

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{distinguish|Paul Walters|Paul Walther}}

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

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Paul Walter

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Paul Ian Walter

| nickname = Tall Paul

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Billericay, Essex, England

| height = 201cm

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Left-arm medium-fast

| role = All rounder

| club1 = Essex

| year1 = {{nowrap|2016–present}}

| clubnumber1 = 22

| club2 = Manchester Originals

| year2 = 2022–2024

| club3 = Brisbane Heat

| year3 = {{nowrap|2023/24–present}}

| club4 = Peshawar Zalmi

| year4 = 2024

| type1 = First-class

| debutdate1 = 13 August

| debutyear1 = 2016

| debutfor1 = Essex

| debutagainst1 = Derbyshire

| type2 = List A

| debutdate2 = 10 May

| debutyear2 = 2017

| debutfor2 = Essex

| debutagainst2 = Sussex

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 53

| runs1 = 2,344

| bat avg1 = 36.06

| 100s/50s1 = 2/13

| top score1 = 141

| deliveries1 = 1,990

| wickets1 = 31

| bowl avg1 = 37.38

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 3/20

| catches/stumpings1 = 24/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 16

| runs2 = 253

| bat avg2 = 25.30

| 100s/50s2 = 0/1

| top score2 = 50

| deliveries2 = 368

| wickets2 = 14

| bowl avg2 = 31.00

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/37

| catches/stumpings2 = 7/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 150

| runs3 = 2,027

| bat avg3 = 20.06

| 100s/50s3 = 0/7

| top score3 = 78

| deliveries3 = 1,682

| wickets3 = 101

| bowl avg3 = 24.93

| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 3/20

| catches/stumpings3 = 76/–

| date = 18 December 2024

| source = [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/869/869283/869283.html CricketArchive]

}}

Paul Ian Walter (born 28 May 1994) is an English cricketer who plays for Essex County Cricket Club. He is a left-handed all-rounder who bowls left-arm medium-fast. He made his Twenty20 debut for Essex, on 24 June 2016, against Hampshire.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/947203.html |title=NatWest t20 Blast, South Group: Essex v Hampshire at Chelmsford, 24 June 2016 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=25 June 2016 }} He made his List A debut for Essex in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup on 10 May 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1068476.html |title=Royal London One-Day Cup, South Group: Essex v Sussex at Chelmsford, May 10, 2017 |accessdate=10 May 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

Originally taking his place in the Essex team mostly as bowler, and batting at number 10 on his first-class debut,{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8204/scorecard/947045/derbyshire-vs-essex-specsavers-county-championship-division-two-2016|title = Derbyshire vs. Essex |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |accessdate=26 April 2019}} Walter later was picked as a number three batsman and even as an opener in limited-overs cricket. In the 2021 season he found a regular place in the middle-order for Essex in the County Championship, being notable for his consistency. He maintains an average of around 40. On the other hand his bowling was rarely used.

He started the 2022 season in the second XI with new signing Matt Critchley taking his spot in the middle order. Returning to the first team after injury to Dan Lawrence, he made 93 against Northants to help save the match and secure his place in the side. In May 2022, in the 2022 County Championship, Walter scored his maiden century in first-class cricket, with 141 against Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-division-one-2022-1297650/essex-vs-yorkshire-22nd-match-1297707/match-report-2 |title=Paul Walter ends long wait for century, to leave Joe Root waiting in the wings |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=6 May 2022}}

Walter signed with the Brisbane Heat for BBL13, where he quickly became a cult hero, making key contributions with bat and ball in a number of games, notably winning the Player of the Match Award in wins against the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Sixers.

Walter played in the final against the Sixers, as the Heat took out the title for the first time since BBL02, becoming only the third team to win the title on multiple occasions, after the Sixers and Perth Scorchers.

Walter took 17 wickets in his 11 matches, with only his teammates Xavier Bartlett (20) and Spencer Johnson (19) having taken more wickets in the tournament.

Walter's return to Brisbane for BBL14 was less successful, having been dropped after making five appearances, taking just two wickets and going at an economy rate of greater than 10 runs per over.