All about Test cricket wicketkeepers – Part III

In the third part of this statistical analysis on Test wicketkeepers, we take a look at their all-round performances and also at times their bowling performances.

Dhoni has the most runs as a captain-wicketkeeper in Test cricket.

Since the very beginning of cricket, a wicketkeeper’s skill has always been applied behind the wickets. His most important skill is his ability to catch the ball, be it with one hand or both, either from a nearly stationary position standing close to the batsman or affecting a quick dive or sprint, or even a stumping.

However, in modern-day cricket, a ’keeper’s job specs are not only to perform well behind the wickets in terms of taking catches, executing stumpings and limiting the number of byes, but to also perform well as a batsman. Therefore, the position is of a specialist or an all-rounder in the playing XI.

In the third part of this statistical analysis on Test wicketkeepers, we take a look at their all-round performances and also at times their bowling performances. Some of them also have the double distinction of appearing in Test matches as both as captain and wicketkeeper. A list of such successful players is given below.

Top all-round performances by wicketkeepers – A century and seven or more dismissals in the match

Note: Sri Lanka gained its first-ever Test victory in the Colombo Test in 1985.

Leading Test wicketkeeping all-rounders – 200-plus dismissals and 4,000-plus runs

 

Quickest to reach 1,000 runs + 50 dismissals while keeping wickets

 

Quickest to reach 2,000 runs + 100 dismissals while keeping wickets

 

Quickest to reach 3,000 runs + 200 dismissals while keeping wickets

 

Quickest to reach 4,000 runs + 300 dismissals while keeping wickets

Note: Only these three cricketers have achieved this.

Bowling performances in an innings by designated Test wicketkeepers – in chronological order

Notes:

+ Four-ball overs

# Five-ball overs

– In Test cricket history, 23 designated keepers have bowled, of which nine have claimed wickets, with Englishman Bill Storer doing it twice.

– Lyttelton (four wickets) and Storer (two wickets) are the only keepers to claim more than one wicket during their Test careers.

– Storer sent down the most balls (168) as a designated keeper in his career and also conceded the most runs (108).

– M. S. Dhoni is the keeper to bowl on the most occasions – in seven innings spanning six Test matches.

– Lilley and Storer (twice) claimed their wickets on the opening day of the Test.

– Boucher’s 1/6 has the second-best figures after Lyttelton’s 4/19.

Most runs by captain-wicketkeepers in Test cricket

 

Most dismissals by captain-keepers in Test cricket

 

To be continued...