Print

[rp27]

first bye? your either a amazing keeper, the bowlers are excellent or you dont play on the poor wickets we have this season. ive probably let 25 go so far in 8 games. most of those are the horrible ones that dont bounce then bounce at your face about a foot infront of you when standing back. if anybody has  got any tips other than self preservation i would love to know!

i thought the same tbh, but i kept well last game and only gave away 1 bye, and the pitch wasnt the best, had a few good stops down the legside off ones that bounced just before me

[thecord]

Only played 3 games so not that amazing! Have been keeping well and got a bit lucky with ones that were called wides once or twice. Strange that I can't remember another byeless game but this year I managed two on the bounce followed by an innings with just one. Spoiled it all in a 2020 tonight anyway with several byes on an old pitch and a second ball duck
Also got horribly cheated out of a stumping where the guy was STILL out of his crease when the umpire gave it not out!

[richthekeeper]

i find the most difficult deliveries are over-pitched ones when standing up to a medium pacer. as one of the taller keepers (6'2") i find the short stuff easy and my feet are quick enough to pick up most things down leg side.

however anything overpitched gives me real trouble - how do i get past this?

[King pair]

Rich, I'm a similar height and had the same problems when I was younger.

Difficult to say without watching you but I would guess you are coming up too early, when you are that bit taller it is very difficult to readjust and get back down.

The key is to stay in your crouch until the ball pitches, I sometimes actually take the ball still in my crouch. If this doesnt feel comfortable then work on only coming up with your knees, not your head, your back or most importantly your gloves. Practice going into your crouch and then try and straighten your legs to a standing position without moving the rest of your body, this will keep your gloves low, your head still and give you a good position to adjust if necessary.

Hope this works for you

[richthekeeper]

i'd say you're right - i've worked hard through this pre season as i had a tendency to rise too early and step back to a more comfortable catching height. i don't like taking the ball still in my crouch but i guess that's the only way. i've experimented with going to a wider stance when i can see the ball is overpitched but that's not ideal either.

it's difficult at my club because the 1st team keeper is 5'6 and has been coached all his life. i'm a converted football goalkeeper and one of the other lads is a converted ice hockey goaltender, so we both have different (bad) habits!

maybe i just need to get in the net with a bowling machine and fire yorkers in until i'm good/broken.

[thecord]

Good mix of sporting backgrounds! I too am a converted football goalkeeper though at 5' 8 I guess I have things much easier than you. No tips I am afraid other than forcing yourself to stay low longer, do a training drill with a mate who whacks you every time you stand up too early?!

[Damo1583]

Your hands have to be at the same height as the ball as it rises from the deck, if the ball is full and you are standing up just keep your hands on the deck. It is easier to come up in one fluid move than it is to go back down again.......hope that helps mate!

[MD2812]

OP, sorry to hijack the thread. (First post, didnt want to start an already existing thread )

My keeping has significantly improved this season and I am enjoying it so much.

MY own question: Anybody got tips for keeping to bowlers with a left hand over action? I find the ball coming across my body rather than into my body slightly unnatural for taking it into the gloves.

My team has one LHB who is medium pace and I stand up to him which I dont mind, but I find myself stepping back on my right foot and taking the ball before my body with outstretched arms, which I know is bad so need to improve.

[richthekeeper]

being quite tall i often take the ball in front of my body as it's a more natural height.

if someone's bowling left arm over the wicket to a right handed batsman, i'll normally take my stance a little wider than normal as his natural line would be across the batsman. you might find it easier to turn slightly so that you're square on to the bowler, rather than staying parallel to the crease. does that make sense?

[MD2812]

Thanks, will have to try that. It sounds like you mean my right foot closer to the crease than my left foot, but with a steady balanced stance?

New point: anybody play in South West London? (Wandsworth area) I have just moved down here from near nottingham and have no one to train with at the moment, have looked at local clubs but the membership fee's are 8 times more than I would normally pay when there are not many games left.

[Buzz]

pm me, I play at the bank of England sports club in putney/roehampton

[thecord]

Thanks, will have to try that. It sounds like you mean my right foot closer to the crease than my left foot, but with a steady balanced stance?

I think that's what rich is suggesting yes and that's also what I do on the rare occasion I keep to left arm over bowlers. It's the same principle for standing up to left hand bats facing right arm over bowlers. Just be careful not to turn too much or it can put your sideways movement off.

[MD2812]

First time last weekend, I was stood up and the batsman played a paddle/dilscoop to fine leg.
Have any keepers on here developed a tatic for that shot?
Would love to work on one!

[GarrettJ]

When the batsman has his backlift in your eyeline stay exactly as you would normally and look at either the pitch or where the ball will be coming from .... the batsman will move his bat out of your sight and you should be able to see the ball fairly early

takes practice buts its worth going in the nets and doing some practice.