• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Backup wicketkeeper- or one too many?

Arjun

Cricketer Of The Year
Time and again, we hear about India looking for a backup keeper for MS Dhoni, who's been overworked. Options are few, and way behind MS, and sometimes mere passengers, but we see it happen all the time. Some say it is essential.

But did we ever see one for Gilchrist? If I remember correctly, he was the single, solitary wicketkeeper thoughout his career, except after the World Cup in 2007, when Haddin was groomed, though as a batsman. He rarely missed a game, and never had backup, despite his rather busy schedule.

We haven't seen one for Boucher, or any England keeper. Just lately, with Sangakkara and McCullum less keen on keeping, we have the backup coming to the fore, but we don't have a backup for a wicketkeeper, rated as the team's best. So why does India need one so much? And how did Australia make it without a backup for Gilly? Something to think about, surely.
 

Crazy Sam

International 12th Man
I was about to say that I thought there were backups for Gilchrist, but then I remembered that Jimmy Maher was selected as our 2nd keeper for the 2003 world cup....

I think it sort of went Ryan Campbell - Jimmy Maher - Brad Haddin in terms of a timeline of backups for Gilchrist.
 

Furball

Evil Scotsman
Time and again, we hear about India looking for a backup keeper for MS Dhoni, who's been overworked. Options are few, and way behind MS, and sometimes mere passengers, but we see it happen all the time. Some say it is essential.

But did we ever see one for Gilchrist? If I remember correctly, he was the single, solitary wicketkeeper thoughout his career, except after the World Cup in 2007, when Haddin was groomed, though as a batsman. He rarely missed a game, and never had backup, despite his rather busy schedule.

We haven't seen one for Boucher, or any England keeper. Just lately, with Sangakkara and McCullum less keen on keeping, we have the backup coming to the fore, but we don't have a backup for a wicketkeeper, rated as the team's best. So why does India need one so much? And how did Australia make it without a backup for Gilly? Something to think about, surely.
Because India and Dhoni play far more cricket than anyone else.
 

NasserFan207

International Vice-Captain
Because Dhoni is way overworked. Plays tons of cricket as is; performs a vital role as a batsman in the one day format and as a wicketkeeper is basically an allrounder. Add to that he's India's captain.

Its a miracle he hasn't been burnt out more.

If he remains as captain/wicketkeeper his batting will detiorate. IMO at some stage in the near-future he will have to give up either captaincy or the gloves.
 
Last edited:

Furball

Evil Scotsman
And the reason there's been no rest period for any English keepers is because for the last 2 years, with the exception of the World Cup, Matt Prior hasn't had the gloves in any limited overs cricket. Prior hasn't played international cricket since August - during which time Dhoni has played 10 ODIs against England, 3 Tests against the West Indies, and the Champions League.
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
India play more cricket, add in the IPL, and captaining India is a bitch of a job at times. I mean Dravid and Tendulkar didn't want it.
 

ret

International Debutant
I am all for a back up WK at least for 'just in case' scenario .... Lessons to be learned from that test against SA, where we (Ind) lost a few batsen due to injury and had to play a wk as a specialist batsman (but in such a scenari, would have liked if Ind had gone in with 5 bowlers though) .... Imagine if the only wk you have is unable to take the field on the day of the match :sweatdrop
 

keeper

U19 Vice-Captain
Can anyone find a list of the international games (of all types) that Dhoni has played by year since he became skipper?
 

BoyBrumby

Englishman
I always like a back-up keeper in a touring squad in case the incumbent goes down on the morning of a test like Haddin did at Headingley in 2009. If Manou wasn't there we'd have seen Hussey (?) taking the gloves for a test.
 

Top