Wicketkeeping Basics: Stance, Gloves, Catching and Stumping
An introduction to wicketkeeping, covering stance, gloves and pads, standing up and standing back, catches, stumpings and the Laws that apply to keepers.
The wicketkeeper is the only fielder who wears gloves and the only one who stands behind the stumps, and that makes the role one of the most demanding in cricket. A keeper must concentrate for hours, move quickly and take catches and stumpings that can change a match. In modern cricket, keepers are often expected to score useful runs as well.
The Laws and the keeper
Under the Laws of Cricket, the wicketkeeper is the only member of the fielding side allowed to wear gloves and external leg guards. The keeper must stay behind the wicket until the ball has touched the bat or the batter, or has passed the stumps, or the batter has attempted a run.
Stance
A good stance is the foundation of keeping. The keeper crouches low with the knees bent, feet roughly shoulder-width apart and weight evenly balanced on the balls of the feet. The gloves rest on the ground with the fingers pointing forward. From this position the keeper can move quickly in any direction. The head should be still and the eyes level, watching the ball from the bowler’s hand.
Gloves and pads
Keeping gloves are padded and have webbing between the thumb and the first finger to help catch the ball. Many keepers wear inner gloves as well, for comfort and for protection. Leg guards for keepers are lighter than those worn by batters, so that they can move freely.
Standing up or standing back
A keeper’s position depends on the bowler. When facing a spinner or a slow-medium bowler, the keeper usually stands up close to the stumps, which puts pressure on the batter, who cannot leave the crease without risking a stumping. For fast bowlers the keeper stands back, further from the stumps, to have time to take the ball cleanly at pace and to catch edges that carry.
Taking the ball
The basic technique is to move with the line of the ball, keep the hands soft and give with the ball as it arrives, so that it does not bounce out of the gloves. Standing back, the keeper tends to take the ball rising, while standing up, the keeper takes it as it dips into the gloves. Good footwork is the key to staying in line, especially when the ball swings or turns.
Catches and stumpings
A catch behind the stumps occurs when the batter edges the ball and the keeper takes it cleanly. Many wicketkeepers also take outside edges that carry to first slip, in which case the keeper and slips must communicate well. A stumping is when the keeper takes the ball and breaks the wicket while the batter is out of the crease. A swift pair of hands and a clear understanding of when the batter is vulnerable are what make a good stumping.
Run outs and throws
Keepers also take part in run outs. When a fielder throws the ball back, the keeper takes it over the stumps, sometimes with the gloves close to the wicket. Remaining level headed helps, since the fielder’s throw is not always perfect.
Communication and leadership
Because the keeper can see the whole field and the batter’s footwork, they often give advice to the captain and bowlers. A good keeper also lifts the energy of a team, encourages bowlers and helps with decisions about reviews.
Records and greats
Several wicketkeepers are remembered as both outstanding glovemen and valuable batters. Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, India’s MS Dhoni, South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara each combined effective keeping with important contributions with the bat. Boucher’s total of more than 550 dismissals in Tests is the most for any keeper as of the end of 2024.
Frequently asked questions
Who is allowed to wear gloves in cricket?
Only the wicketkeeper may wear gloves and external leg guards among the fielding side.
When does a keeper stand up to the stumps?
A keeper usually stands up when facing spinners or slower bowlers, and stands back for fast bowlers.
How can a wicketkeeper dismiss a batter?
By taking a catch, usually off an edge, or by stumping the batter when they are out of the crease and the keeper breaks the wicket.