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Equipment => Wicket Keeping => Topic started by: imogzyboy on April 22, 2011, 08:10:31 PM

Title: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: imogzyboy on April 22, 2011, 08:10:31 PM
is it possible to start wicket keeping at any age or should you have started at junior age level?
its cause i am interested in starting but dunno if ill grasp it?
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: roco on April 22, 2011, 08:14:36 PM
I first kept at 18 and did it for a while but I coach a few 9-10 year old keepers so any age
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: mdl_1979 on April 22, 2011, 08:15:13 PM
I hadn't done it at all before last season and ended up doing it half a dozen times.  I'm 31.  Definitely wouldn't recommend it, unless you're into savage pain!
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: johnnyw on April 22, 2011, 08:16:32 PM
Ive only started wicket keeping this year. I am 20 and have taken to it well. But I only started playing cricket towards the end of last year
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: Six Sixes Cricket on April 22, 2011, 08:19:17 PM
Kept last game of last season and took 3 wickets. Was told I'm the wicket keeper for this year. Really enjoyed doing it, downside was the butchered hands and walking like John Wayne for 2 days due to my thighs seizing. Never endured so much exercise in my life.
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: roco on April 22, 2011, 08:21:18 PM
It's definatley a short persons game
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: Buzz on April 22, 2011, 08:23:10 PM
I first kept at 31 years old... I was awarded the nick name of "the Tin Man" as a result of my creaking knees.

It is never to old to start doing something - you just may not be as good as someone who started 20 years before you did!!
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: jonpinson on April 22, 2011, 08:35:45 PM
I started keeping in the bronze age.

Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: 19reading87 on April 22, 2011, 08:37:50 PM
Started 3 years ago at the age of 21 as my team was short.
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: Coach on April 22, 2011, 08:51:26 PM
Ideally from a young age but if you are looking to take it up from and elder age consider the physical implications and demands. Are you fit enough to do it basically, Flexibility in the Achilles, calfs, hamstrings and hips not to be high, without that you can't get in a good enough position. Are your legs strong enough to cope with the demands of repeated body weight squats over an extended period? Are you prepared to wear a few cricket balls? Getting hit is part of the job! As well as finger injuries which can not be avoided! A few things to think about if your looking at keeping either long term or starting!
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: chris24565 on April 22, 2011, 09:23:11 PM
I started 20 years ago at 26 gave up 5 years ago and being wheeled out of retirement this year due to regular keeper have a knee op. Should be able to walk again by most Wednesdays. Should be interesting as my daughter keeps for county girls at under 15 so plenty of family rivalry. Seen some good keepers aged 9-10 at county training sessions this winter.

Think the principle of "if you are good enough then you are old enough" is a good guide
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: justnotcricket86 on April 22, 2011, 09:27:07 PM
I started when I was 15, now I'm 24 but had a few years off. I just hammer the weight machines in the gym. Squats, calf raises and working the hamstrings and quads. That does help me get through it
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: roco on April 22, 2011, 09:28:30 PM
Wait till you keep on our pitch it's an experience
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: geelkabouter on April 22, 2011, 09:35:43 PM
I started keeping at age 13 and at 15 was keeping wicket for the school 1st team I don't think there is a right or wrong age, I would  say though an important part of keeping is concentration .

Like they say catches win matches
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: johan95 on April 23, 2011, 12:30:00 AM
I started keeping last year on a whim. Bought a pair of gloves and found I had the eye for it.
Wouldn't say I can do it perfectly yet, but I'm pretty handy behind the stumps. :)
Doubt there's a right or wrong time to start as mentioned before.
It's never too late to start.
Though always wear a helmet standing up. There was a keeper playing in the ground next to us yesterday who had to have stitches in his head as the ball grazed off it.. :(
Luckily it wasn't any worse.
Great thing to do is keeping, if you can endure it for 40+ overs. As it helps your fielding when you field and it is a good way of earning promotion up a team :)
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: geelkabouter on April 23, 2011, 07:32:05 AM
Like already stated there is no right or wrong time to start, get a set of gloves some pads and give it a try
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: Simmy on April 23, 2011, 07:33:05 AM
started at 10
Title: Re: what age do people start keeping?
Post by: procricket on April 23, 2011, 07:43:07 AM
Now right or wrong age as others have said it does have it pitfalls.

My hands are disfigured they all look broke but if you like me do not like just standing around all day after batting then keeping keeps you in the game.

Keeping is hard but rewarding your expected to catch everything yet sometimes when the timing is out have a bad day.

Overall though it a great job and keeps you in the game at all times