Basic of Wicket Keeping

PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES OF WICKET KEEPING

• The basic fielding responsibilities of a wicketkeeper are:
• Watch the ball at the time
• Stay low to receive the ball in soft hands and with a soft body
• practice with bowlers and fielders

In addition, the wicketkeeper is central to the performance and mood of the fielding team. While in the field, the wicketkeeper should:

• Support the bowlers and fielders, by his/her actions as well as encouraging words.
• Inspire the fielding team.
• Continually backup and support all members of the fielding team.

WICKETKEEPING EQUIPMENT

1. Gloves

2. Inner gloves

3. Pads

4. protector

5. Helmet (When keeping up to the stumps) or cap

POSITIONING FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOWLERS

The wicketkeeper's body should be positioned to give a clear, uninterrupted view of the bowler releasing the ball, and the full trajectory of the ball. This should be achieved from a balanced, crouched state.

CROUCHED, READY POSITION

The Wicketkeeper should begin crouched in a ready position, with the weight on the balls of the feet. The hands should be open and in front of the body, with the back of the hands on the ground, awaiting the delivery.

BASIC CATCHING TECHNIQUES

The same basic catching principle that applies to the field also apply to wicketkeeping. The hands and body should be soft, to cushion the catch, and the fingers should point down, up or to the side, depending on where the ball is in relation to the wicketkeeper.

The Wicketkeeper should stay low and rise after the ball bounces. The wicketkeeper should free their elbows- the elbows tend to be away from the body so that the hands can move freely and to cushion the catch.

KEEPING BACK

CORRECT POSITIONING FOR KEEPING BACK

A couch in a balanced position, from where there is a clear view of the release of the ball. This position should also allow the wicketkeeper to take the ball at waist level as the ball is on the way down.

CATCHING THE BALL

The wicketkeeper should position the body so that the ball is taken in line with the inside hip. This allows wicketkeeper to catch more outside edge and able to cover more ground to accept thicker, wider outside edges. When catching the ball, the fingers should not point at the ball - they should point up, down or to the side.

SIDESTEP / CROSSOVER FOOTWORK

For wider balls, it is important to move quickly in order to align the eyes and the gloves with the line of the ball. To do this, stay low with smooth and sharp footwork, which should be practiced regularly. The first sidestep should be a definite one, with the inside foot closing to the outside foot, which itself steps again to ensure the body is balanced.

For wider deliveries, the outside footsteps to the side, and the inside foot crosses behind the outside foot, which then steps again for balance and/or to make further ground. For very wide deliveries, the hips may be opened to the side so the wicketkeeper can run to cover more ground and dive if necessary.

CATCHING TECHNIQUE - SOFT HANDS

When catching the ball, the wicketkeeper should always use soft hands. The body should also and should 'give' an impact of the ball. When standing back, the aim is to take the ball in line with the inside hip. This hip should be withdrawn to enable the gloves and arms to float with the ball and smoothly take the ball.

POSITIONING SLIP FIELDERS IN RELATION TO WICKETKEEPER'S STANCE

One of the wicketkeeper's role is to give the slip fielders and other close catchers advice on their positioning. The first slip should stand behind the level of the wicketkeeper and wide enough that both can cover an edge that goes in their direction. The second, third and wider slips and gully fielders should be staggered gradually closer to the level of the batsman. This is because a thicker edge is likely to move slower through the air and is unlikely to carry as deep as a thin edge.