Top 5 specialist wicket-keepers who were not batsmen

The wicket-keeper was a tail-end batsman once upon a time whose only job in the team was to be secure behind the wickets. He was agile, sitting low and waiting patiently for every edge that came his way. The time has changed now as the wicket-keeper must necessarily be an able batsman, and that could only be seen as a positive for the game had not the art of wicket-keeping suffered at the hands of it. The purist will tell you that it has. Ever since Adam Gilchrist, the ‘wicket-keeper-batsman’ has displaced the wicket keeper so much so that a below-average keeper with good batting skills is preferred over a below-average batsman with good wicket-keeping skills.

The example of Rahul Dravid comes to mind, a genuine batsman if there ever was any, was forced to take up the gloves because glove-work was something that could be managed. The balance of the side was more important. The spectator too has changed with the game, technique and skill are not required in a keeper as long as he does not glaring holes in his gloves. A fiddler who can smash the ball will do very well, is welcome. AB De Villiers is yet another case. A top-class batsman who has grown into the role gradually. MS Dhoni is an unorthodox player in every aspect of the game; may it be with his keeping or batting. These players are modern-day legends but they leave a little to be desired for the nostalgic purist.

We cannot turn the game around for him but here is a list of 5 wicket-keepers who lived in an era when they did not need to have a flowering relationship with the bat not to say they did not do their bit.

Wasim Bari

Wasim Bari was not a flamboyant character on the field and did his work behind the stumps in an understated but efficient manner. He was a consistent fixture in the Pakistan side for twelve years. Considering the current upheaval in Pakistan Cricket regarding the below-average skills of Kamran Akmal, here is inspiration enough. Wasim Bari holds the record for the maximum dismissals for Pakistan and is their best keeper in history by a safe distance. He began his Test career as a no.10 batsman and ended it at that position but he was involved in more than a few match-saving partnerships for Pakistan.