5 wicketkeepers who turned out to be good fielders
Cricket, like any other team game, often requires players to be at the top of their fitness. The players are often advised to maintain a balance between their mental and physical standards. However, there is one part of the game that is considered to be of prime importance by every team these days - fielding. A player with good fielding abilities is often considered to be an asset to the team for he has the ability to come up with some surprises on the field.
Also read: 5 reasons why Axar Patel doesn’t belong in the ‘big league’
Modern day cricket has witnessed some incredible turnarounds where the wicketkeepers have gone on to become the guardians of the outfield. Their quick reflexes and precise hand-eye coordination have helped them gain some recognition with regards to their fielding as well.
On that note, we look at the top 5 wicketkeepers who went on to become pretty good fielders when the situation demanded.
#1 AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers needs no introduction when it comes to his batting skills. The South African batsman possesses every shot in the book and even has the ability to out-think the bowler when it comes to being innovative.
Popularly known as Mr. 360, de Villiers burst onto the international scene in 2004 as a wicketkeeper-batsman. There were hardly any questions regarding his batting, but the presence of the great Mark Boucher meant that he had to sacrifice his wicketkeeping. The right-hander gladly obliged and though he was used in the outfield by the South Africans, little did they know what he was capable of.
The Pretoria-man turned out to be electric on the field and outclassed some of the great Proteas. His agility and smart thinking made him one of the best in the world.
What made him special was his ability to field anywhere on the field. While his acrobatic skills came in handy in the ring, his quick feet and safe hands allowed him to guard the boundary line as well.
Though he has had the struggle of juggling a career with and without the wicketkeeping gloves, the man, at 32, still displays the same energy and enthusiasm on the field as he did when he first stepped into the scene.