These days I think it's fair to say that teams are placing a greater emphasis on keepers scoring runs than they are on keepers actually being good keepers. Sometimes, this is a viable strategy, If you've got someone like Kumar Sangakkara or Adam Gilchrist in your team, what you lose as a keeper you more than make up for with the extra batsmen, and besides both of those individuals were/are pretty decent keepers.
However, unless your keeper is such an excellent batsman as these, is it really worth the sacrifice in keeping quality? I don't think so. What one has to ask one's self, I think, is whether the keeper will score enough runs with the bat to make up for those which they will not save in the field, and vice versa. It's about striking a balance, and I think that teams are too dismissive of the value of great keeping.
Bringing me to the point, then, will Jos Buttler make up for what he lacks in keeping with the bat? As an England fan, I sincerely hope so, but as a realist I doubt it.
In defence of Wicketkeepers
posted on 25/7/14
Most wk average between 30-40. I think that is decent. Would you rather a wk averaging 20which bowlers these days easily hit those many runs, and a really good keeper or have an ok wk who can catch most of the catches that comes his way. I would rather have the latter
posted on 25/7/14
if a wicket keeper cant bat.. they need canning..
posted on 25/7/14
Pakistan produce wicket keepers who can't bat or keep but are very good at appealing.
posted on 25/7/14
comment by (Kash) Coutinho's Through Ball (U1108)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
Pakistan produce wicket keepers who can't bat or keep but are very good at appealing.
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haha I like that
posted on 25/7/14
Kash
posted on 25/7/14
A keeper that averages in the 30s, who is a very good gloveman, should be what teams aim for. What annoys me with England is that they seem to want to forget the keeping part and just have another batsman. I think that's a mistake.
posted on 25/7/14
England have been looking for a Gilchrist since he first burst onto the scene. People like him are very rare and don't come along too often. A keeper who averages 30s is a good keeper. Look at Hadden and Prior in his peak both good batsmen, no super world class but very good.
posted on 26/7/14
Haddin is precisely the mold that England should be looking for. He's pure grit and doggedness. Exactly the kind of player you want down the order when your team is in a sticky situation.
posted on 26/7/14
Wicketkeeper is such a specialist position nowadays and Gilchrist single handedly changed the role of a "wicketkeeper batsman" where nowadays every keeper is expected to play an aggressive innings. They cannot simply get away with a decent batting average and excellent glove work. It's why you see so many keepers now who in both test match and limited overs cricket are one of the most vital components of that batting line up from Sangakarra, Haddin and Dhoni.
posted on 5/8/14
To be fair even bowlers are expected to have a reasonable batting average, look at the two sides in England atm and they bat right down to 10 - Pankaj looks like he could whack a few with a fair wind and Jimmy knows how to hang around so some games it could almost be 11.
For me a wicketkeeper needs to at least do the basics well, and I think the game has moved on slightly from the discussions of the relative merits of Knott and Taylor.
Butler to do him credit did keep competently, there wasn't anything glaringly out of place and his batting then buys him a couple - Id like to see if he can bat a more circumspect innings but that will come in time and a judgement can be made.