King Pietersen
ICC Board Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2006
- Location
- Manchester
Was thinking about this earlier, and realised that in Test cricket the difference between the top keepers is incredibly slim. Most Test sides have a decent keeper, and most of them can bat abit as well. It's a key position in the team, and as the game as moved on (since the introduction of Adam Gilchrist into Test cricket) the ability to bat has also become key. So the purpose of this thread will be to detirmine the best all-round keeper batsman. To keep things fair, the fact Dhoni is captain is of no significance, as we're focusing purely on the keeping and batting ability. Here are the main contenders:
Brad Haddin
Haddin's introduction to Test cricket came with alot of hype, he's been earmarked to be Gilly's successor for a few years, and has now been given that chance. His Test career didn't start brilliantly, but as he's developed into the role his game as improved immensely. Haddin struggled in India and the West Indies, but very solid home series against New Zealand (averaging 65 with 1 hundred) and South Africa (averaging 45) has brought his overall career average up to a solid 38.
Haddin's keeping ability is also impressive, looking very solid keeping against all the Australian bowlers, even the searing pace and lack of accuracy from Shaun Tait. Haddin did struggle somewhat in India with his keeping, but I think that was more due to him struggling in the conditions having not had alot of cricket there before. He's certainly got alot of ability though.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
The poster boy of Indian cricket. He's widely regarded as one of the best all-round players currently in the game, although that reputation does primarily spout from his OD cricket. Dhoni's keeping ability has very few flaws, but it's his batting in Tests that leaves alot to be desired. His record's far from awful, averaging 36, but it's the lack of hundreds that could be a worry. Dhoni's only passed 50 in 15 of his 56 Test innings, converting only 1 of those into a hundred.
He's certainly got alot of talent, but hasn't quite converted that into Test cricket. He also had a very average 2008 as well, averaging 35 with the bat, and failing to make a score of real substance. His only hundred came in his 2nd year of Test, leaving him 2 years without a Test hundred, and that's something he'll have to put right. He is a fantastic wicket-keeper though, you can't take that away from him.
Matthew Prior
Matty Prior has always been under the spotlight, not for his batting, but for his wicket-keeping. He's been nothing short of fantastic with the bat in Test cricket, an average of over 40 from 12 games, 6 of those away from home, and 5 of them in the subcontinent, a place that Brad Haddin struggled. The only problem with Prior is his past record in Test cricket with the gloves. In Sri Lanka he had a terrible time, failing to pick up the ball from Ryan Sidebottom's bowling on a number of ocassions. Since his return to the side he's looked far more solid though, and I cannot recall a real chance spilled since he came back in.
I think in terms of batting Prior's the best in the world, but his keeping does let him down somewhat.
Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher's the most experienced of all the keepers currently playing, having played 123 Test matches. Boucher's reputation is that he's a fighter, and a battler. He often relishes coming into bat when South Africa are in trouble, and very rarely lets the side down. His batting average of 30 with 5 Hundreds is nothing special, but it's a decent enough record for a guy that started his career in a far more bowler dominated era, having to face guys like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Glenn McGrath, Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
Boucher's keeping has also been incredibly useful, and he has been consistently fantastic with the gloves throughout his career. He holds the record for catches in Test match cricket and has been in the South African side for a very long time.
Brendon McCullum
Arguably one of the most improved players in International Cricket. McCullum has developed into one of New Zealands best batsmen, and although his record doesn't show it, he is a fantastically talented batsman. McCullum is also a natural entertainer, he's one of the most exciting batsmen to watch in World Cricket, constantly trying to take the attack to the opposition bowlers.
The excitement also is shown in his keeping, with him being one of the most agile and athletic keepers in the game. McCullum has pulled off some of the best catches from a keeper in the past few years, one that instantly springs to mind is one in an ODi last year in New Zealand to dismiss Ian Bell, showed fantastic reactions and tremendous hands. He's a fantastic keeper, and very rarely drops a chance. It's just the consistency with the bat that has flattered to decieve in his career thus far.
Prasanna Jayawardene
The final selection on this little shortlist is the Sri Lankan specialist keeper, Prasanna Jayawardene. Widely regarded as one of the best out and out keepers in the world, Jayawardene is fantastically talented with the gloves on. He's performed admirably since coming back into the Sri Lankan side, but the one thing that could stop him from going down as one of the best currently playing is his batting.
In the 23 Tests Jayawardene's played, he's scored 653 runs at an average of 25 with just the 1 hundred and 2 fifties, not exactly a record to shout home about. If we were judging on purely keeping, he'd probably win, but as this is an overall comparison, I don't believe he can be considered the best.
So, make your decision, who do you rate as the best currently playing? Remember this is an all-round comparison, taking not only keeping ability, but their batting record into consideration. It's incredibly close, with alot of players having similar records, and although if I was picking a team to watch I'd go with McCullum, I believe the best all-round candidate is the Aussie, Brad Haddin.
Discuss......
Brad Haddin
Haddin's introduction to Test cricket came with alot of hype, he's been earmarked to be Gilly's successor for a few years, and has now been given that chance. His Test career didn't start brilliantly, but as he's developed into the role his game as improved immensely. Haddin struggled in India and the West Indies, but very solid home series against New Zealand (averaging 65 with 1 hundred) and South Africa (averaging 45) has brought his overall career average up to a solid 38.
Haddin's keeping ability is also impressive, looking very solid keeping against all the Australian bowlers, even the searing pace and lack of accuracy from Shaun Tait. Haddin did struggle somewhat in India with his keeping, but I think that was more due to him struggling in the conditions having not had alot of cricket there before. He's certainly got alot of ability though.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
The poster boy of Indian cricket. He's widely regarded as one of the best all-round players currently in the game, although that reputation does primarily spout from his OD cricket. Dhoni's keeping ability has very few flaws, but it's his batting in Tests that leaves alot to be desired. His record's far from awful, averaging 36, but it's the lack of hundreds that could be a worry. Dhoni's only passed 50 in 15 of his 56 Test innings, converting only 1 of those into a hundred.
He's certainly got alot of talent, but hasn't quite converted that into Test cricket. He also had a very average 2008 as well, averaging 35 with the bat, and failing to make a score of real substance. His only hundred came in his 2nd year of Test, leaving him 2 years without a Test hundred, and that's something he'll have to put right. He is a fantastic wicket-keeper though, you can't take that away from him.
Matthew Prior
Matty Prior has always been under the spotlight, not for his batting, but for his wicket-keeping. He's been nothing short of fantastic with the bat in Test cricket, an average of over 40 from 12 games, 6 of those away from home, and 5 of them in the subcontinent, a place that Brad Haddin struggled. The only problem with Prior is his past record in Test cricket with the gloves. In Sri Lanka he had a terrible time, failing to pick up the ball from Ryan Sidebottom's bowling on a number of ocassions. Since his return to the side he's looked far more solid though, and I cannot recall a real chance spilled since he came back in.
I think in terms of batting Prior's the best in the world, but his keeping does let him down somewhat.
Mark Boucher
Mark Boucher's the most experienced of all the keepers currently playing, having played 123 Test matches. Boucher's reputation is that he's a fighter, and a battler. He often relishes coming into bat when South Africa are in trouble, and very rarely lets the side down. His batting average of 30 with 5 Hundreds is nothing special, but it's a decent enough record for a guy that started his career in a far more bowler dominated era, having to face guys like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Glenn McGrath, Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
Boucher's keeping has also been incredibly useful, and he has been consistently fantastic with the gloves throughout his career. He holds the record for catches in Test match cricket and has been in the South African side for a very long time.
Brendon McCullum
Arguably one of the most improved players in International Cricket. McCullum has developed into one of New Zealands best batsmen, and although his record doesn't show it, he is a fantastically talented batsman. McCullum is also a natural entertainer, he's one of the most exciting batsmen to watch in World Cricket, constantly trying to take the attack to the opposition bowlers.
The excitement also is shown in his keeping, with him being one of the most agile and athletic keepers in the game. McCullum has pulled off some of the best catches from a keeper in the past few years, one that instantly springs to mind is one in an ODi last year in New Zealand to dismiss Ian Bell, showed fantastic reactions and tremendous hands. He's a fantastic keeper, and very rarely drops a chance. It's just the consistency with the bat that has flattered to decieve in his career thus far.
Prasanna Jayawardene
The final selection on this little shortlist is the Sri Lankan specialist keeper, Prasanna Jayawardene. Widely regarded as one of the best out and out keepers in the world, Jayawardene is fantastically talented with the gloves on. He's performed admirably since coming back into the Sri Lankan side, but the one thing that could stop him from going down as one of the best currently playing is his batting.
In the 23 Tests Jayawardene's played, he's scored 653 runs at an average of 25 with just the 1 hundred and 2 fifties, not exactly a record to shout home about. If we were judging on purely keeping, he'd probably win, but as this is an overall comparison, I don't believe he can be considered the best.
So, make your decision, who do you rate as the best currently playing? Remember this is an all-round comparison, taking not only keeping ability, but their batting record into consideration. It's incredibly close, with alot of players having similar records, and although if I was picking a team to watch I'd go with McCullum, I believe the best all-round candidate is the Aussie, Brad Haddin.
Discuss......
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