Joys of Being a Wicketkeeper

Some call it the most understated position. Some refer to it as a Thankless Job. But, for me, and for any passionate wicketkeeper, this is a job we would do with a smile all our lives. The sheer pleasure you get when you know that you are important, that you are involved and that you live the game. When the ball thuds into the gloves, the sense of accomplishment is similar to scoring a boundary, the difference being that this accomplishment is yours almost every other ball.

This, and a lot of other things. When a spinner bowls a wide, and you collect it, the look that he gives you is of someone needing reassurance, of someone in want of encouragement. When a pace man does the same, his look epitomizes gratitude. The love for the game of cricket spreads across the whole team, through the keeper. After a sweeper throws the ball back, he is worried about the run out less than he is expecting you to raise both palms in the air and applaud him. When the skipper stands at first slip, he his continuously chatting with you to keep his nerves down. And he doesn’t know it, but follows most of your advice. There is a sense of trust when a throw comes to your side even from long on. This is what we keep for, this is what we live for. Me, at least.