The wicketkeeper is sometimes one of the most underrated positions in cricket. A wicketkeeper is not only a great glove man who helps take wickets or save runs but can also motivate a team from behind the wicket. Much like a goalkeeper in soccer, a wicketkeeper has that extra advantage of having an eye on the whole field of play.
This is also one of the reasons why some of the world’s most successful captains have been captains such as India’s MS Dhoni.
In the early days of test cricket, the wicketkeeper’s primary role was to keep wicket but, these days, the wicketkeeper has to be able to bat as well.
Sometimes, batsmen are trained to be-come wicketkeepers as it makes the batting lineup that much stronger.
There was a resurgence of wicketkeeper-batsmen who opened the batting in the 1990s with Sri Lanka’s Romesh Kaluwitharana and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist leading the way. Other prominent wicketkeeper-batsmen have been SA’s Mark Boucher and, more recently, Quinton de Kock.
What makes a good wicketkeeper?
A good wicketkeeper has to be flexible, agile and sharp-minded. He also has to be able to predict where a bowler will bowl and be alert to any game situation. A great one-handed diving catch and a dropped chance have decided many a match in the past. Fast hands and excellent reflexes are other trademarks that a good wicketkeeper must possess. It is important to also have a good base to move from.
Equipment:
•Helmet: This is especially important when standing up to the wicket. Wicketkeepers normally stand up to the wicket when spinner and medium pacer bowl as it increases the chance of getting a stumping (when the batsman gets out of his crease). Helmets also aid in the protection of a wicketkeeper. Mark Boucher famously did not wear a helmet when standing up and endured a freak injury when one of the bails hit his eye. He never played professional cricket again after that accident.
•Wicketkeeping gloves
•Wicketkeeping pads
Famous wicketkeepers of the modern era:
•Kumar Sangakkara
•Mark Boucher
•Adam Gilchrist