They probably do, but the one thing that I do agree with SJS about is that there's a complete lack of understanding of the art of wicketkeeping.
Taking Matthew Wade; whilst it's obvious to me that he's a pretty poor keeper, I have no idea why he's poor and what he could be doing better to improve.
Thanks for agreeing with me even with the qualifying tone of it :-)
Yes people have no clue on what makes a great keeper but it does not stop people from arguing the case for the inclusion of poor keepers based on their batting skills. Lets at least be honest, as you are being so refreshingly, that we do not know what makes a good or great keeper so we will discuss the merits of different keepers only in the context of their batting.
One could go into details of what keeping involves but I am busy right now writing two chapters for the book on The 25 Greatest Innings. Maybe at a later date.
As I sit watching the Delhi Test, Ishant Sharma just bowled the last over before taking the new ball. The ball, bowled over the wicket, went straight and pitched on the middle stump. Dhoni, standing back had already got up and moving towards the leg side. This is completely wrong. The keeper is supposed to remain down till the ball pitches and then rise with the ball as it comes off the surface.
If Dhoni had done that, he would have also noticed that the bal started cutting/seaming away after pitching moving in the direction of the off stump. Sidldle edged the ball and what should have been a relatively easy catch, as far as edges go, became difficult for Dhoni to even get to sinc he was moving in the other direction.
This is very poor keeping and defies the very basic principals of keeping.
If Dhoni was an unknown young keeper who had come for keeping trials and had done this, the coach of the club would have scratched the name off the list.
But this is Dhoni and all we do show the bowler, Kohli, Tendulkar looking up to heavens and Dhoni bewildered getting on to his feet.