Cricket Keeping Techniques

In cricket, each team has a designated player who acts as the wicketkeeper. The wicketkeeper stands behind stumps, although the distance he is away from the stumps depends on the speed of the bowler. The wicketkeeper is the fielder who is most involved in the action; he must concentrate on each and every ball. The wicketkeeper wears protective pads and a pair of gloves that have webbing between the thumb and index fingers.

  1. Stance

    • As a wicketkeeper, you are constantly moving up and down, so it's important to have a comfortable stance. Your knees should be bent and you should be in a crouched position just outside the line of off stump. Place your weight on the balls on your feet, with your hands kept close together between your feet, and your fingers pointing towards the ground. Keep your head still.

    Taking the Ball

    • Wicketkeepers can be involved every ball, making how you take the ball behind the stumps very important. Having good technique will help you take the ball cleanly and avoid spilling catches and conceding unnecessary runs. Start in your normal stance and as you judge the bounce of the ball, your body should rise accordingly. Move your feet so your body is in line with the ball. For balls below your chest, take the ball with your fingers pointing towards the ground. If the ball is above chest height, turn your head, twist your body and catch the ball with your hands in a horizontal position.

    Soft Hands

    • When you're taking the ball behind the stumps you need to have soft hands. The idea is to maximize the time of contact between the ball and your hands. In order to do so, relax your elbows and move your hands in the direction of the ball. This will reduce the impact of the ball hitting the gloves and prevent the ball from bouncing off. Trying to catch the ball with stiff hands only increases the chances of dropping the ball and can lead to injury.

    Returns From Fielders

    • Wicketkeepers have traditionally taken the ball behind the stumps when a fielder throws the ball to them, but it's becoming increasingly common for wicketkeepers to take returns in front of the stumps. Doing so reduces the need for a direct hit and allows you to remove the bails more quickly than if you were waiting behind the stumps. Get sideways on to the stumps and plant one leg by the stumps to help with your positioning. This will enable you to collect throws that don't reach the stumps and carry your hands through in an arc to break the wickets.