South Africa in 1966-67 when he was conscripted to two years of National Service training, although effectively being exempted from Vietnam service in order to pursue his professional, cricketing career in Australia, and it wasn't until 1968 that he returned to the test arena. In the 1968-69 series against the West Indies, Walters was injured and unavailable for the first Test match, but in the remaining four Tests he scored a Bradman-like 699 runs, at an average of 116.5, with a highest score of 242 (in the process he became the first player to score a century and a double century in a single Test). In 1969–70 he showed a weakness against the South African fast bowlers Peter Pollock and Mike Procter, ducking while leaving his bat upright like a submarine periscope. This weakness was exploited by England's John Snow in the 1970-71 Ashes Series, who repeatedly sent down fast, short-pitched balls against Walters. Even so, Walters made 205 not out for New South Wales against the tourists, 112 in the First Test and three fifties thereafter, but few runs in between, making 373 runs (37.30) in the series. Walters starred in an unofficial Test series to a Rest of the World team led by Gary Sobers that toured in 1971–72 as a replacement for the politically unacceptable South Africans, scoring 355 runs in four matches at an average of 71.00, with two centuries. He famously hit a century in a session at the WACA against England in 1974, where he hit Bob Willis for six from the last ball of the day to bring up his ton. He missed the entire series when Australia beat West Indies 5–1 in Australia in 1975-76 due to an injury, but was soon back in the side. His 250 against New Zealand in 1977 is the highest by any batsman in the number six position. Walters was a part-time bowler, but his medium-paced "Golden Arm" broke many partnerships and yielded 49 Test wickets at 29.08. He wore the large sideburns popular in the 1960s and '70s and when not on the field was seldom seen without a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. He was also famous for his laconic humour. The Doug Walters Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground (opened 1985, demolished 2007) was named after him. There is currently a bar in the Victor Trumper Stand named after him.