Wicket Keeping Techniques

In cricket, the wicket keeper is often under-appreciated but is critical to the success of a team. Excellence in the outfield is regularly met with applause and praise by spectators and commentators, but it is simply expected of a wicket keeper. Wicket keepers do, however, enjoy the appreciation of their teammates, which makes it a rewarding position to play. For anyone playing cricket as a wicket keeper, or seeking to learn the position, there are some critical areas of technique that can always be worked on, regardless of your playing level.

  1. Positioning

    • If the bowler delivers fast balls, the wicket keeper stands further from the stumps to allow for the increased speed and height of the ball after bouncing. If the bowler spins the ball or delivers slow balls, the wicket keeper will stand closer to the wickets.

      When the batsman is right-handed (facing the ball with the left side of their body), the ball will be delivered to the right of the batsman, so the wicket keeper will have his left foot in line with the middle stump. If the batsman is left handed, the opposite applies. Finally, the wicket keeper must not have any part of his body in front of the stumps when the ball arrives, otherwise a no ball is called, giving the batting team one run without being counted as a ball in the over.

    Communication

    • Communication between the wicket keeper and bowlers is essential. A system of hand signals can be set up to allow the wicket keeper to position himself or move preemptively according to the speed or intended spin a ball will take. A wicket keeper may also wish to make arrangements with bowlers before a match regarding how certain batsmen will be bowled against.

    Catching

    • When the ball reaches the wicket keeper, it should be taken with soft hands. Catching tennis balls is a useful practice exercise for catching with soft hands, as the bounciness of a tennis ball makes it difficult to snatch the ball, which a wicket keeper should avoid doing. The wicket keeper should keep his eyes on the ball until it is safely in his gloves. Ideally, the ball should be taken in below chest height. The wicket keeper will generally have his fingers facing downward with thumbs up, Pitch Vision Academy notes, creating a large catching area and aiming to receive the ball in the palms of the hand, not the fingers.

    Footwork and Diving

    • These two elements of wicket keeping technique are closely linked; however, effective footwork should preclude the need to dive unnecessarily. The wicket keeper should be ready to move across the wicket quickly and should shuffle from left to right to keep his head straight in line with the ball. The wicket keeper cannot always stay in line with the ball and this fact, along with the chance of the ball glancing off of the bat, may require diving.

      The wicket keeper will generally set up for a ball in a crouched position and should be on his toes. This allows him to shuffle quickly and keeps him in a good starting point for a dive. Even when diving, a wicket keeper should seek a safer two-handed catch, resorting to a one-handed catch only when the extended reach it allows is necessary.