short wicketkeepers

[Hit4Six]

has anyone else noticed there are loads of really short wicket keepers?
kamran akmal, parthiv patel , geraint jones, carlton baugh? none of them look that tall?

[nookie_lk]

Romesh Kaluwitharana (shortest ever), Rashid Latif, Adam parore, Moin khan, allthose dudes are short too.... i guess when ur short it makes u more flexible and a better keeper..donno thats what i think

[Pratters]

David Williams of the Windies was the shortest keeper I have seen.

[Neil Pickup]

And arguably the best keeper in the world at present - Tatenda Taibu - who's about four foot three...

[Swervy]

Originally Posted by Neil Pickup

And arguably the best keeper in the world at present - Tatenda Taibu - who's about four foot three...

....in his high heels

[Langeveldt]

We had a really tall keeper at college.. Im surprised tall one's don't benifit from better reach, although its a lot harder to stay low on low wickets

[Arjun]

Taller keepers keep better against the seamers. Plus, they make better batsmen, since they can hit the ball a long way.

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by Arjun

Taller keepers keep better against the seamers. Plus, they make better batsmen, since they can hit the ball a long way.

er.... no.

I am racking my brains to come up with any top-class wicketkeeper EVER who was six foot or more. There might be the odd one, but they seem to be (the great ones anyway) well under that height.

The very nature of keeping is that it is physically suited to the player of shorter stature.

Really tall batsmen are an aberration too - look at all the top players in world cricket history - the 'big' guys are the all-rounders and bowlers. I appreciate that there exceptions, but that's just how the game seems to be.

[SirBloody Idiot]

How tall is Gilchrist?

[FRAZ]

Originally Posted by luckyeddie

er.... no.

I am racking my brains to come up with any top-class wicketkeeper EVER who was six foot or more. There might be the odd one, but they seem to be (the great ones anyway) well under that height.

The very nature of keeping is that it is physically suited to the player of shorter stature.

Really tall batsmen are an aberration too - look at all the top players in world cricket history - the 'big' guys are the all-rounders and bowlers. I appreciate that there exceptions, but that's just how the game seems to be.

Dujon (WIndies). A great keeper.

[Hit4Six]

Originally Posted by Arjun

Taller keepers keep better against the seamers. Plus, they make better batsmen, since they can hit the ball a long way.

short people can hit the ball a long ay too - sehwag doesnt look that tall and he gives it a good whack.

[Jnr.]

Originally Posted by SirBloody Idiot

How tall is Gilchrist?

Gilchrist isn't a great wicketkeeper though.

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by Jnr.

Gilchrist isn't a great wicketkeeper though.

Whereas Gilchrist is tall by wicketkeeping standards, he is still under 6 feet.

[luckyeddie]

Originally Posted by FRAZ

Dujon (WIndies). A great keeper.

as was Deryck Murray and Jackie Hendriks.

Yes, the West Indies do tend to buck the trend and select big men to wear the gauntlets.

[Arjun]

short people can hit the ball a long ay too - sehwag doesnt look that tall and he gives it a good whack.

Sehwag slogs to hit hard and plays predetermined, manufactures shots. Gilchrist hits clean shots for big sixes.

How tall is Gilchrist?

Probably 6'1".

Gilchrist isn't a great wicketkeeper though.

Still, very efficient and can do the job well, unlike Dravid. He's also the most effective batsman in Tests and ODI's today.