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[Nothing2SeeHere]

Apologies if this has been done to death before, but as a new starting keeper for my local team (where being the young side of 40 and having prior form for diving on the ground) I have watched the usual coaching videos and I don't understand why the crouch is the de-facto technique for standing up to the wicket?

I can follow Jack Russells explanation for not crouching when standing back, but the only explanation I have seen is that it is easier to rise than to fall. This explanation doesn't explain enough of the subtleties for me (that others might learn from working up through a team).

As far as I can tell I want a position that:

- is dynamic (crouching isn't as I don't have the hip flexibility I had 20 years ago)
- stable base position
- offers good vision
- doesn't distract the batsmen (stalking forwards probably isn't going to cut it here)

So why the low crouch rather than something a little higher (more like a close fielding position)?

[Nato]

My understanding from trying both a full crouch and a planted stance standing up is that when crouching you follow the path of the ball when it pitches and bounces, meaning you're more likely to be able to react quickly to any deviation, edges etc. I'm still working out what works best for me, but I changed from standing up to crouching halfway through the season, and have found myself keeping better when standing up.

[wilkie113]

Surely a wicket keeping basic is to catch the ball as well!

[Butterfingerz]

Why does a wicket keeper crouch? - ideally when keeping you want to have your hands and eyes as low as possible thus rising with the ball. Stay low until the ball bounces and rise with your hands at the same height as the ball until it arrives. A quick drill I run with juniors is to have them behind the stumps and I 'flick' the ball from a good length. This proves to them that they can trust waiting until the pitch before moving

[Nato]

Surely a wicket keeping basic is to catch the ball as well!

Nah, completely unimportant! 

[shazz]

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/cricket/7093423/matt-prior-s-wicketkeeping-masterclass

[Timbo]

Stop the ball first.. Catch it second.. (optional extra..)