Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Wicket Keeping => Topic started by: Centurion on December 31, 2015, 11:08:57 PM
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I am keen on keeping next season as I bat already but would like to add another element in my game. My junior club team is short on keepers and by the end of the winter I hope to be the reserve keeper for my county squad as we only have one keeper so I am going to train during the winter to improve on keeping but I have no clue on keeping. So im wondering what drills to do, any tips, gloves and pad tips (short cuff, long cuff, octopus palm, etc) and pretty much anything else that can be useful.
Cheers :D
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As a very part time stopper I'm probably not the most qualified to give tips, but I will anyway!
Clear your mind between balls, each delivery is a potential chance.
Watch the ball.
Stay low.
Move your feet - it's less energy consuming & more successful than diving.
Don't stand up thinking you're billy big bollox! You'll cost the team more in byes and missed chances from standing too close than anything else.
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As a very part time stopper I'm probably not the most qualified to give tips, but I will anyway!
Clear your mind between balls, each delivery is a potential chance.
Watch the ball.
Stay low.
Move your feet - it's less energy consuming & more successful than diving.
Don't stand up thinking you're billy big bollox! You'll cost the team more in byes and missed chances from standing too close than anything else.
Haha cheers mate. Hate it when keepers stand up for no reason >:( winds me up no end! I will start training soon and once I get a bit better, Paul Nixon coaches in a centre not too far from me so I will probably get a few sessions with him as well.
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If youre new then I would reccomend long cuffed gloves as you're more likely to cop one on the wrist
*however* it comes down to personal preference in the end
Again like Cam I'm only a very part time, only started keeping last year whilst captaining my club age group development squad, when I open the bowling for our full strength age group and lower senior teams
It's very different and enjoyable, even if I wasn't that great
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If youre new then I would reccomend long cuffed gloves as you're more likely to cop one on the wrist
*however* it comes down to personal preference in the end
Again like Cam I'm only a very part time, only started keeping last year whilst captaining my club age group development squad, when I open the bowling for our full strength age group and lower senior teams
It's very different and enjoyable, even if I wasn't that great
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I am aiming towards getting the long cuffed gloves because, as you said, more protection. Will probably go kookaburra just as they are my sponsors.
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Another tip.
Use your hands to stop the ball, not your shins!
With this in mind (and assuming you plan to take up keeping full time) cheap pads but decent gloves.
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Another tip.
Use your hands to stop the ball, not your shins!
With this in mind (and assuming you plan to take up keeping full time) cheap pads but decent gloves.
I'll be getting the kook pro pads as they are £30 for me anyways.
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Not a keeper but was watching Healey discuss keeping on Sky Sports earlier this week.
One point he stressed on was watching the ball and not the batsman
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https://youtu.be/vqUP6AUxu3A nixon drills
And here's healy talking on sky sports
https://youtu.be/vMhEw-lqRz4
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Keep your thumbs as far apart as possible, stay low and come up with the ball. Just keep your head in line and you'll catch everything.
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Speak to your county coach and find a good keeping coach to show you the basics. Better to start doing the right stuff than learn bad habits.
Main tip I would say is catch a hell of a lot of balls and make sure you have fun.
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Hi Centurion,
Ive been keeping for the best part of 15 years and kept at county 2nd XI level. Although this certainly doesn't qualify me as an expert and i'm sure there are far more qualified people on here, here's my two penneth. I wont go into how to stand etc as there are a million youtube videos on that but I'll just add a few points to hopefully help you out.
Extreme basics but some of the most important elements to keeping (often paid lip service to but you would be amazed how many keepers, new and old, dont do the following)
- Eyes level
- Relaxed hands
- Come up with the ball
- Let the ball come to you
Next step - your set up.
- Your springs/Shock absorbers - Elbows, Knees, Hips and believe it or not ankles. Ensure they are all relaxed to take the energy out of the ball. Far too many keepers are rigid, this causes them to lean back when taking the ball. Off balance resulting in your head moving - keep your head as still as possible.
- Always be leaning into the ball. If you look at any decent keeper, apart from the hands the furthest thing forward will be their head.
- 90% arm extension, do not lock your arms straight. Take the ball well in front of you using your elbow shock absorbers to take the ball cleanly. Taking the ball too close to the body will A) prevent your shock absorbers from working B) create a snatching 'take' and C) prevent you from adapting if there is any ABS (after bat swing)
Feet
- Probably the most neglected part of Wicketkeeping but arguably as important as hands. All good wicketkeepers (and batsman) have excellent footwork whether stood up or stood back. Diving should be the last resort so get practising side to side drills. A good one which I like to do is two cones approx 3 meters apart with a tennis ball on the top of each and one in your hand. For 2 mins straight and as quick as you can be on your toes side stepping to each and replacing the ball on top with the one in your hand. 2 mins doesnt sound a lot but if your posture is right (head as still as possible, leaning slightly forward) and you do it a few times you will start to feel it in the quads, calves and hammys. It also helps hand/eye coordination by ensuring your hands are doing their job before you start moving ( a good drill for stumpings etc, no point moving until you have taken the ball cleanly)
Basic Habits
- ALWAYS take the ball to the stumps if you are within reach - although dont always take the bails off - umpires have a sense of humour failure on that one.
- ALWAYS Want the ball, whenever an outfielder collects the ball, demand it to be thrown in. This not only keeps energies high but lets the batting team know your team mean business.
- NEVER GO QUIET. Youre the fielding general, your energy should be high for every ball. If the keeper is quiet, the team is quiet.
Mental side.
- Whilst learning (and indeed at any point in your keeping career) there is always a chance you may miss a stumping or drop one - You have to have the ability to put this to the back of your mind and concentrate on the next ball. This is where keeping is unique, you cant be sent to ride the boundary if youre not seeing it well at slip or you cant be taken off cos youre bowling a bad spell. Keeping has nowhere to hide, although saying that, it is the best place to be.
- Learn how to switch off between balls. If a batsman bats out the entire innings people commend him for his powers of concentration, the keeper has to do this every game. As soon as you have passed the ball to a fielder, completely switch off. As soon as the bowler has it in his hands switch back on. It is important to have an 'on button' too. Have a movement that through muscle memory switches you on. I take two steps forwards and touch both gloves before going into my stance then power position. Not saying you should do the same, but find your cue!
Lastly but by far the most important....Enjoy it! You will never be as good as you can be if you dont have a smile on your face.
Theres a few basics for you, if you want any more technical questions answering, feel free to send me a direct message.
Hope this helps
Karlo
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@karlo84 cheers mate! Just what I needed :)
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Great post from Karlo. Especially the bit about enjoying it! Keepers are always in the game, so stay switched on as much as possible and don't allow any missed chances to affect you. When it's gone, it's gone - only the next ball counts, not the last!
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Yeah a great post. Switching off is my next challenge this season. Managed to do it when batting by counting trees but might not work if I want to gee up the fielders etc. Any tips?
Oh one other thing I found really helped, although it isn't for everyone, is to film yourself at nets. I learn so much by watching myself, I think I'm doing one thing with my feet, hands etc and I'm not at all, even if it is a small thing.
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@Centurion, not a problem, glad i could help
@dannyhall04 cheers mate
@CalverKeeper Agreed, reviewing video footage is a fantastic way to improve yourself. As you rightly point out, what you think youre doing and what youre actually doing could be two completely different things. With regards to switching off and gee-ing up fielders at the same time.... humour goes a long way. If youve a funny story going through the team, mention it. We had a lad go out clubbing the previous week and pull an absolute horror show of a woman, we kept dropping her name in wherever we could. It keeps the team morale high and youre switched off from that little red round thing which should be the only thing mattering in your world when the bowler gets hold of it again.
If humour isnt your thing, dont worry, standard encouragement will always be welcomed. A common team theme/humour has always worked best for me though
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Have a look at the top keepers on television and also the weaker ones.
Standing up Dhoni's the best. Really solid hands to take fast stumpings and still catches more than most.
Standing back the Aussies tend to be best as they're the only ones still playing on fast carrying pitches.
If you get the chance have a look at Bairstow. He's got a trigger movement with his left foot which stops him covering his right side effectively. The best guys have no movement or both feet go together.
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Standing up Dhoni's the best. Really solid hands to take fast stumpings and still catches more than most.
Really?! ???
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Really?! ???
I was thinking that :) James Foster is one of the best I've ever seen stood up, especially to seam up bowling, still struggle to go past Healy keeping to Warne as far as keeping to spin goes.
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Jack Russell for me but then I'm biased as a Bristol lad.
Healy to Warne was certainly very good and as you say Foster, particularly stood up to seamers, has been excellent for a long time although I wonder if he is on the slide now after watching him on TV a couple of times last year
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Haven't seen Foster play for a couple of years to be fair.
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Russell was a different class as well
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Have a look at the top keepers on television and also the weaker ones.
Standing up Dhoni's the best. Really solid hands to take fast stumpings and still catches more than most. I'll have some of whatever you've been smoking please!
Standing back the Aussies tend to be best as they're the only ones still playing on fast carrying pitches. Everyone can look good standing back, if you can catch you'll look competent standing back basically
If you get the chance have a look at Bairstow. He's got a trigger movement with his left foot which stops him covering his right side effectively. The best guys have no movement or both feet go together.
I'm not sure I agree about the trigger movement thing, as foot movement is a big part of keeping surely a small trigger will help get into the right position more than standing still. As long as you aren't going miles of the off side and giving yourself no chance of getting anything down leg I cannot see an issue with it.
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The thing with bairstow as far as ive seen (double checked with a professional search of youtube too) is that his trigger is actually a slight jump the left, overcoming that inertia to go back to the right becomes a little harder than if he didnt move
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Dhoni is very good up at yhem stumps to spinners. His footwork leaves a lot to be desired but hands and speed is impressive.
In terms of Bairstow, pretty easy to pick his technique to peices after watching them moan about it on Sky Sports during this test. Remind me how many of the pundits have kept wicket???
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I was thinking that :) James Foster is one of the best I've ever seen stood up, especially to seam up bowling, still struggle to go past Healy keeping to Warne as far as keeping to spin goes.
Michael Bates was the best young keeper I'd seen live. Was gutted when Hampshire let him go.
Chris Read's glovework was something to behold too, it's a real shame he never really "made it" in international cricket
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England never deemed Foster or Read to be good enough batsmen for some reason did they. They got what they wanted in Prior, a test quality batsman who's keeping was passable and could be improved on the job.
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It's a shame really, Adam Gilchrist has almost re-defined the roll of a keeper.
At international level everyone seems to go for a batsman who can keep, and it's started happening at county level.
I'll use Hampshire as my example, Michael Bates was possibly the most promising gloveman in the country, and could bat a bit (he has a first class hundred). However his batting wasn't deemed good enough so Adam Wheater was bought into the side. His glovework was passable, but he is a batsman who keeps rather than a keeper. He even played as a batsman in championship cricket, while Bates took the gloves.
Batting is seen to be more important than keeping nowadays, so Bates was sadly released and Wheater given the keeping duties. Admitedly he isn't a bad stumper, but Bates' glovework was on a different level.
In a few years keeping may not be a specialist job at all, with the modern brand of batsman heavy cricket sides may play a side with all batsman/all rounders with the team drawing staws to decide who takes the gloves...
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Yeah stumpers like Gilchrist and Boucher ruined it for everyone by being good at both disciplines haha! It's right though, it's getting more and more batsman heavy nowadays, England for example fielded a side with Rashid batting at 11 last year, he has something like 10 first class centuries!
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@WalkingWicket37 completely agree about Dhoni, stood up he looks very fast because he has hard hands and is always directing his gloves towards the stumps. This looks rapid when he takes it cleanly but any thin edge of anything down leg and he is well short of the mark. Stood back he is lazy, very very lazy., Anyone can look good stood back (so long as your footwork is in order)
A name people constantly forget to mention is Kumar Sangakkara, he was both a quality glovesman and batsman. He kept to the mystery of Muriltharan and the swing of Vaas and the waywardness and pace of Malinga and made it all look fairly straight forward, wherever he was playing. I think I'm also right in saying he has the most ODI dismissals and a very impressive test record too.
In terms of trigger movement, there's nothing wrong with that at all. Often wicket keeping requires dynamic movement and you have to set yourself up for that however you find best. Nowadays you're in the minority of batsman if you don't have some sort of trigger, the same can be said for wicketkeeping. So long as you are set and well balanced in the power position at the point of delivery, it doesn't matter if you do the okey kokey to get you there.
In terms of up and coming keepers, keep your eye on Ben duckett from Northants. I played against him when he played for Northants 2's when he was 15(!) and was a quality keeper then. He must be 20 now and I have no doubt he will be next in line for the England job in a few years, so long as he keeps certain things in check..
Karlo
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@WalkingWicket37
A name people constantly forget to mention is Kumar Sangakkara, he was both a quality glovesman and batsman. He kept to the mystery of Muriltharan and the swing of Vaas and the waywardness and pace of Malinga and made it all look fairly straight forward, wherever he was playing. I think I'm also right in saying he has the most ODI dismissals and a very impressive test record too.
Good point. Sanga is just a freak though he's on another level as a cricketer haha
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By all accounts a top bloke too