Cricket is quite an enjoyable sport, with many roles designated to fellow players such as batters, bowlers, fielders, and wicket keepers. Everyone has an active role in taking the game to the next level. Mostly, we praise and appreciate the batters, who are responsible for scoring the highest centuries in cricket and score runs, but neglect other players, such as wicket keepers who work in silence in the background and contribute towards the team's success. In today's blog, we'll discuss the best wicket keepers in the world who have set records through their adorable and extraordinary performances. Read the blog till the end to know more about it.
What Is the Role of the Wicket Keeper in Cricket?
In cricket, the wicketkeeper is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket. Their primary role is to be ready to stop deliveries that the batters pass, take a catch from them out, or run out batters when the occasion arises. He is the only member allowed to wear gloves and external leg guards on the fielding side. The wicketkeeper's primary function is to stop the deliveries that pass the batsman to prevent the runs being scored as byes. We can also call him the best fielder with an active role in the game.
Best Wicket Keepers in the World
Here is the list of the best wicket keepers in the world who have set records with their efforts and outstanding performances.
Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher tops the list as one of the best wicket keepers in the world. Mark Verdon Boucher is a South African cricket coach and a former cricket player who has played all three game formats. He has a record of playing 147 matches where he has caught 532 balls and stumped 23 with 555 dismissals. Boucher was a South African cricket team member who won the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy, the only time the country had won an ICC trophy. He has played for a number of teams, such as Borders, Warriors, South Africa, Africa XI, ICC World XI Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.
Adam Gilchrist
Adam Craig Gilchrist is an Australian cricket commentator, former international cricketer, and the Australian National Cricket Team captain. He is known for his attacking left-handed batting and is also a record-breaking wicket keeper who has set a record for playing 96 matches. He has caught 379 balls and stumped 37, with a total dismissal of 416. He was a member of the Australian Team, which won three consecutive world titles in a row, including the 1999 Cricket World Cup, 2003 Cricket World Cup, and 2007 Cricket World Cup, along with the 2006 ICC champions trophy.
Ian Healey
Ian Andrew Healy is an Australian former international cricketer who has played for Queensland domestically. He is a wicketkeeper and right-handed middle-order batsman. He is the best wicketkeeper in the world with a record of playing 119 matches, has caught 366 balls, stumped 29 balls, and has dismissed 395 balls. He was part of the Australian squad, which finished the match as runners-up at the 1966 cricket World Cup. He has also captained Australia in eight one-day internationals when the regular skipper, Mark Taylor, was injured. Yet, such sports injuries are an inevitable part of the game.
MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a professional Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian team. He is a right-handed batsman and a wicketkeeper. Over time, he was regarded as one of the most prolific wicketkeeper batters and captains. In his wicket keeping career, MS Dhoni has set records by playing around 90 matches, catching 256 balls, and stumping 38, totalling 294 dismissals. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is regarded as one of the most incredible ODI batters and represented the Indian cricket team. and was the captain of the side in limited overs from 2007-2017 and test cricket from 2008-2014. MS Dhoni is also one of the best finishers in cricket.
Rod Marsh
Rodney William Marsh was an Australian professional cricketer who played as the wicketkeeper for the Australian National Team. His name appears in the list of one of the best wicket keepers in the world who has set the record of playing 96 matches, 343 catches, 12 stumpings, and 355 dismissals. In 2009 Marsh was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Brad Haddin
Bradley James Haddin is an Australian former cricketer, vice-captain, and coach who represented Australia in all three formats of international cricket. Haddin has several records in his wicket keeping career where he played 66 matches, caught 262 balls, 8 stumpings, and 270 dismissals in the game. He played domestically for New South Wales and was a right-handed batsman and a wicketkeeper. He was a member of the Australian World Cup-winning squad at the 2007 and 2015 Cricket World Cups and played for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.
Jeff Dujon
Peter Jeffrey Leroy Dujon is a retired West Indian cricketer and a cricket commentator. He has set records by playing in 81 matches, 265 caught, 5 stumped, and 270 dismissals. He was a part of the West Indian squad, which finished as runners-up at the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Dujon was one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1989 after retiring as a player in 1992. He has also worked as an assistant coach of the West Indies national team.
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Wicketkeeper in the World
What Makes a Person an Excellent Wicketkeeper?
An outstanding wicketkeeper possesses the following skills:
Quick reflexes: Reacting quickly to stumpings and catches.
Quick decision: The best wicketkeeper must also be a good decision-maker with a sharp cricketing mind.
Strong Batting: The best wicketkeeper must be the best batter, especially in the lower order.
Speed: To be the best wicketkeeper, you must also be able to handle the ball with speed and precision, which makes you stand out of the box.
Name the Best Wicketkeeper Batters in All the Formats
Adam Gilchrist is one of the best wicketkeeper batsmen, and he is known for his aggressive batting and exceptional glove work.
Name a List of the Few Best Wicketkeepers in the World.
MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher, Ian Healy, and Kumar Sangakkara are some of the best wicket keepers in the world.
The best wicketkeeper in the world has qualities such as quick reflexes, consistency, leadership, and the privilege to make immediate and fast decisions on the game field with a clever attitude.
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