Strathfield is delighted to announce the signing of Liverpool League run machine Ben Walkden for their 2022/23 Sydney Shires campaign.
Walkden is quite the talent currently playing ECB Premier League (Newton-le-Willows) and County 2nd XI (Lancashire) cricket.
A tall, hard-hitting, opening batter, Walkden has been a stand-out performer in the Liverpool Competition over the past four seasons culminating with regular Lancashire 2nd XI outings.
Following strong seasons in 2019 (745 runs at 46.56), and 2020 (310 runs at 44.29), Walkden would enjoy a prolific 2021 season striking 769 runs at 51.27 to win the Liverpool Division One Player of the Year. He was also instrumental in his college’s success hitting 531 runs at 75.86 with 5 hundreds, including a highest score of 150*. He also topped the Lancashire U18s run charts with a further 427 runs at 85.40 with the highest score of 151*.
This summer, playing in the ECB Premier League, Walkden has continued to excel with 586 runs at 73.25 at the point of writing (07/07/22), which sees him lie second on the run charts.
To date, across all cricket for Newton-le-Willows (258 games), Walkden has racked up 7,112 runs at 46.18, but these figures are on the rise courtesy of season averages of 46.56 (2019), 44.29 (2020), 51.27 (2021), and 62.90 (2022).
At County level, Walkden is a Lancashire 2nd XI regular. Last summer he averaged 40 in his 7 2nd XI Championship games, including a highest score of 81 against a strong Middlesex attack.
Whilst known for his batting, Walkden is a developing all-rounder who is a more than useful medium-pacer – 33 wickets at 12.94 for his club in 1st XI league cricket in 2021 lay evidence to this.
The batting all-rounder is quite the prospect who seems destined for full County honours in the not-too-distant future. In a view towards his ongoing development, Walkden is heading down under this winter to play for Strathfield in the Sydney Shires Competition.
