Alexia Walker, Sussex Women’s most capped player ever, has announced her retirement from the game following the end of the season after playing 146 matches for the County.
Alexia first began playing cricket in January 1992 at the age of 10 for her local side in Bexhill, and it was that same summer she then represented Sussex for the first time, progressing through the age group squads, before making her debut for the Sussex Women’s 1st XI in 1998. She then cemented her place as an all-rounder for 16 seasons and represented Sussex for 22 years.
She has won six County Championships with the Sussex Women and two T20 Championships, with the most recent being this season. Alexia was also captain of Sussex for two of the County Championship wins, in 2008 and 2010. She represented the England Academy, as a player and as a coach.
Known as ‘Crispy’ to her teammates, she was an aggressive, hard-hitting top-order bat and fast-medium pace bowler and an excellent fielder.
Off the pitch, Alexia has also played a huge part in development of cricket in Sussex, being a County coach for the Sussex girls’ squads for over a decade, as well as being a member of the Sussex WCA Committee and a Director of the Sussex Cricket Board, and she has helped Sussex be one of the leading counties in Women & Girls cricket.
Alexia also become the youngest, male or female, to complete the ECB Level 4 qualification, and now coaches all the County squads, currently fulfilling the role of Director of Cricket at the Aldridge Cricket Academy for Portslade Aldridge and Brighton Aldridge Community Academies.
Alexia said of her retirement, “Cricket has been a part of my life for over two decades, so deciding to retire was never going to be an easy decision but it is now the right time for the hugely talented youngsters to continue Sussex’s success without me. Playing for Sussex is a great honour for any cricketer so to represent the County for 22 years and to have completed 16 seasons in the 1st XI, and winning 9 major trophies along the way is something I am immensely proud of.”
“I want to thank every coach who has taken the time to work with me, my family and friends for their never-ending support and all the team mates I have been lucky enough to share so many memories with over the years. Good Old Sussex by the Sea!”
Sussex Captain Sarah Taylor said, “Alexia can look back at her career and be extremely proud. Her hard work and dedication on and off the field can only be admired. She has developed the next generation through coaching the age group girls and I hope that continues. The experience she brought to our side I know will be missed along with her attitude. I wish her all the best for her future and I hope she will be remembered as a legend of the Women’s game here at Sussex.”
Director of Sussex Women’s Cricket Charlotte Burton added, “Alexia is Sussex through and through, there has never been a more proud, passionate and dedicated player wearing the Sussex shirt than Alexia. She has been an outstanding player which shows with the amount of matches she has played.”
“We will miss Alexia on the pitch, but I know off the pitch, she is very dedicated in helping produce the next best players for Sussex and developing the Women & Girls game further for this County. We wish her all the best for the future and thank her for being part of the Sussex family and helping Sussex be one of the leading counties in the Country.”
Photo above shows Alexia Walker celebrating Sussex’s T20 win at Horsham on Sunday
(by Don Miles)
