The crucial role of wicketkeeper-batsmen is often the most overlooked and neglected position in a cricket team, especially in Test cricket.
In this age, it is vital for a team to have a ‘more than handy’ gloveman who can bat with the tail or anywhere in a batting line-up, as well as keep the team morale up, on and off the field.
If a keeper does not perform with the bat, the media are always quick to judge and scrutinise the man behind the stumps.
“Apart from squatting, diving, catching and throwing all day, a wicketkeeper keeps the team together with his observations and chatter. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s easy,” said Aakash Chopra in 2010.
The unsung hearts of a team are starting and have started a new era due to the older men putting aside their gloves. Two talented keepers, at similar stages in their Test careers for their respective countries, are Sarfraz Ahmed (Pakistan) and Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka).
Twenty-eight-year-old Ahmed has just recently impressed in the Test Series against Sri Lanka. The eye-catching Pakistani and dominant 25-year-old Sri Lankan debuted in Tests early in 2010 and late 2011 respectively, both playing 17 Test matches since.
Sarfraz has an amazing average of 46.91, with his highest score being 112, and Chandimal has an average of 41.38, with a high score of 116*.
The stroke-playing number seven and number six batsmen have equally made six fifties and three hundreds. Sarfraz has accumulated 1079 runs, which is three more than the Sri Lankan.
Both Dinesh and Sarfraz also have similar records behind the stumps with both of them taking 32 catches. In the stumpings section of their careers, Ahmed has five more then Chandimal at 11.
The Sri Lankan and Pakistani have both already made their mark on the world stage and will be in the mix of bigger things to come.
Other keepers who have already made an impact are Bangladeshi Mushfiqur Rahim (28 years old) and New Zealander, BJ Watling (29). Twenty-two-year-old South African Quinton de Kock and 30-year-old Indian Wriddhiman Saha are also promising keeper-batsmen, taking the reigns from MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers.
The next generation of keepers are in good hands with these world class batsmen and gloveman making their mark on the world stage.
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