Wicketkeepers sledging as bad as cheating: Kirmani
› He is showing the consistency required, though Parthiv did a superb job against England. But Saha beats him in agility and reflexes SYED KIRMANI, ex-chief selector
CHENNAI:The India-Australia Test series was marred by sledging and Syed Kirmani feels wicketkeepers’ chatter from behind the stumps amounted to unfair play. There were several instances of players from both sides clashing on the field, and the final Test in Dharamsala was marred by Aussie keeper, Matthew Wade, and Ravindra Jadeja exchanging words.
TALKATIVE TREND
“This trend of being talkative, I don’t know where it has come from. I was also told, but I never did. I said ‘that is cheating’,” the member of the 1983 World Cupwinning side said, when asked whether India Test stumper Wriddhiman Saha should be more in-your-face.
Kirmani, also a former national selector, believes Saha’s consistency gives him a headstart in all formats when MS Dhoni calls it a day in limitedovers cricket.
TECHNIQUE FALLEN
Kirmani, though, is not impressed by the technique of current India ‘keepers. “Saha is improving, but there is always room for improvement. He has taken some stunning catches and shown great agility. He has been consistent in batting. Consistency is the key,” he told reporters at the launch of ‘Trucoach-CSS Whatmore Centre of Cricket’.
Saha took over in Tests when Dhoni retired in 2014-15. His batting has also strengthened India’s lower order. There is speculation Dhoni could quit after the ICC Champions Trophy, though the twin World Cup-winning skipper has said he might go on till 2019.
“Every keeper has his technique…, but trends have changed from my time (1976-86). Coaches now say technique is not required,” he said.
NOT ON THEIR TOES
Kirmani, 67, said staying on one’s toes helped keepers get behind the ball and also reach farther on either side. “Now, the keepers I see are all on their heels, with feet apart. When you have proper technique, you don’t get injured. If you have the wrong collection technique, you might break your fingers.”
However, he is not surprised by keepers emerging as good batsmen. “He will bat well because his concentration levels are better than anyone else in the team.” He said there was nothing to worry about Dhoni’s successor as Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Saha, and even Naman Ojha, were all competent. But he felt Saha had the edge.