Aussie triumph: Surrey's Stewart Walters Ady Kerry
Malden Wanderers cricketer Stewart Walters believes his stint as captain of Perth Cricket Club will help him in his fight to secure a starting slot in the middle-order at Surrey.
The 24-year-old batsman helped his club side to a Western Australia Premier League grand final at the WACA in March after a miserable season in England at the Oval.
Walters, who played in Wanderers' pre-season match at Horsham on Saturday, saw Perth to a second-place finish in the league table before play-off heartache.
But the Epsom-based strokemaker, who scored 228 runs in 12 County Championship innings last season, believes the experience means Surrey skipper Mark Butcher can count on him for some ideas in the field.
"My spell in Australia really brought my game on and improved my man-management skills," he said.
"I am really looking forward to putting that into practice.
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"Butch has always said if anyone has any ideas during the game to bring them up.
"I did that last year and we picked up a couple of wickets as a result, which makes you feel good.
"Captaining a side has brought more of that to my game, so that is something extra I can bring to the team."
Surrey have made a number for the new season with Usman Afzaal coming in to strengthen a middle-order that struggled to support free-scoring Mark Ramprakash last season.
Butcher's belief that Surrey will score more runs this year was immediately justified with tons for Ramprakash, Afzaal and himself in their 537-5 declared in the season-opener with Lancashire.
Walters, who became a father over the winter, admits it will be difficult to force his way into a side already hitting form.
"A few signings to give us more strength," he added.
"It is going to be tougher to get a spot in the side from my point of view, but it makes for great competition for the squad.
"As a batsman there is no better place to be than at the Oval when you are in good nick. Hopefully, I can find some form and play as much cricket here as possible."
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