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[Woodyspin]

So potentially, my Sunday XI will be mixing with the our old 4th XI and possibly playing in a 'development league' with games on... yep a Sunday. Having captained the side for a few years and slowly becoming less and less worried about needing myself to come on to bowl and regularly only bowling 4 overs. So if this does happen I've decided i'll keep to the little midgets bowling from 22 yards way

I just need a few pointers to begin with, i've kept before.. more so this season then ever before, would just like your tips and tricks before i take up the gloves.

Many thanks

[LiamGuy]

I look forward to reading the replies on this as I also want to become more of a keeper due to our regular keeper (my dear old Dad) is getting on a bit (63 years old this year!) and I would like to become the 1st choice keeper.

[Tailendfielder]

Depends on your starting point really and how seriously you want to take it.

If you pick the ball early and can catch, the rest comes naturally. Relax and come up with the ball. You begin to understand the bowlers including when the terrible delivery is coming which is infuriating.

Dont stand up to everyone out of pride. Stand up when needed!

Dont under estimate the fitness required to keep. In the last 5 overs you can really struggle. It may take a while before you can stop writing the following day off as well.

Too follow that up, if you are skipper it is even tougher, with fatigue your ability to think about the game will deminish. You will have very little time to contemplate the game between deliveries so you need to have a vc you can trust and talk to.

I had a tendancy to remember the good balls / played and missed rather than the two loose deliveries leading you to bowl someone too long so i would recommend making a conscience note of the runs conceeded. Sounds simple but easy to let slip.

[Woodyspin]

Depends on your starting point really and how seriously you want to take it.

If you pick the ball early and can catch, the rest comes naturally. Relax and come up with the ball.

I've been trying to embrace the so called 'z position' being 6'3/6'4 I'm obviously very tall for the usual keeper, and I did find it easier the next day. especially when keeping to the seamers, never actually fully squatting helped with the balls down leg side ect..

You will have very little time to contemplate the game between deliveries so you need to have a vc you can trust and talk to.

Understood. My Vice is the typical 1st slip anyway haha

[Big Mac]

As someone who was asked to keep for the first time ever earlier this year and therefore have no clue what I'm talking about, there are just three things you need to do:

1) Don't rise up out of your crouch until the ball has pitched. Easier to go up late than to have to go back down if you stood up too quickly.

2) It's OK to stand a couple of paces back if your spinner bowls at a decent pace. Preventing byes is your main job because let's be honest, you're not going to stump anyone.

3) Make sure first slip is selected on the basis of his sense of humour and not his catching ability. 40 overs passes quickly if you're having fun.

[SOULMAN1012]

Keeping needs to be kept simple but one thing is that it does not come naturally, you can naturally become a blocker/catcher but a wicket keeper is more than that in my view.

Firstly you need to be confident in that you will mainly be the vocal point of the side, this does not mean a mouthy so & so but supporting, encouraging and done times being totally honest with how someone is bowling etc. confident to tell the skipper what your seeing and what ideas etc

Stay low and take the ball on the up. When standing back you want to taking stock delivery waist height to reduce stress on knees, back etc. when up its late and on the up.
Relax and let the ball cone to you never snatch.
Don't best yourself up when you drop them or miss them it will happen and its part and parcel. Mainly enjoy it though.

[Tailendfielder]

Fitness wise, cycling can be good for stamina. Lots of core work e.g. Planking. One that i found useful was kneeling on a gym ball/bosu ball while a friend throws a medicine ball at you at various angles.

[Woodyspin]

Fitness wise, cycling can be good for stamina. Lots of core work e.g. Planking. One that i found useful was kneeling on a gym ball/bosu ball while a friend throws a medicine ball at you at various angles.

That would suggest I already go to the gym...

[Tailendfielder]

That would suggest I already go to the gym...

I see Well as others have confirmed relax and come up with ball. Amuse yourself watching the others chase the ball to the boundary

[Woodyspin]

I see Well as others have confirmed relax and come up with ball. Amuse yourself watching the others chase the ball to the boundary

Sounds more like it! Any suggestions on the inners? Half Cham, full Cham? does the weather make much difference to the feels or just make you hands sweat more? Maybe 2 sets per game to keep everything fresh?

thoughts?

[SOULMAN1012]

Sounds more like it! Any suggestions on the inners? Half Cham, full Cham? does the weather make much difference to the feels or just make you hands sweat more? Maybe 2 sets per game to keep everything fresh?

thoughts?

I use half Cham with fingerless batting inners over them to give another little bit of padding on the palm

[Tailendfielder]

With a custom bats head on this opens up a fair few doors, kit wise.

I have a huge red ink bag which drives everyone else mental. Its a must for irritating teammates.

I use salix half cham(doubt the brand matters) and have done for years. Tried full cham and i didnt like it, preferred the holes. Never tried the new aero stuff. I dont change for weather. I dont wet my inners either but all that is preference i guess. Just what fits and feels comfortable. No right or wrong.

Dont tumble dry .....

[Sivlar13]

I have Woodstock inners, they're cheap and have superb padding in the middle of the palm, we'll worth a purchase.

[thecord]

On the inners front, having kept for 20 odd years and changing to Aero P1's last year I now wouldn't use anything else.

[Woodyspin]

No disrespect on age, but could those 20 years have an affect over such a long term, and the p1s are just a break for some already worn in and tired hands that work under muscle memory? possible the less protection would be a good starting point?

How do you all stop yourself from snatching at a thin edge when standing up? I always find myself snatching at the wide one's from well out in front of my body resulting into a dropped catch, or a lucky juggle?