BAIRSTOW IS GOOD... BUT JAMES STILL BEST WE HAVE
Wicketkeeping is an art, and there have been some greats over the years. There is more to it nowadays than just catching the ball behind the stumps, with batting also a huge part of a keeper’s make-up.
I’m a massive fan of Jonny Bairstow with the bat in his hands and his wicketkeeping is definitely improving. Just by doing the job, and being on the pitch, you’re going to improve as a player. I have a lot of time for Jonny, but I do still see a few things he needs to improve. I want to do a bit of work with him, and I’m sure that will happen. I did speak to him briefly at T20 Finals Day and gave him a few pieces of advice.
He’s a lot better than he was, even just a few weeks ago, but I think he can move his feet more before catching the ball when standing back. There are other small details which can be worked on, but I can’t give all my trade secrets away!
English keepers have to get their head ready for the outside edge. It’s not like in Australia where the pitches are bouncier – there’s more carry and you’ll take most balls around chest height. Here, you get a skiddier bounce and you need to be ready. This is quite technical, but some people move head first, like myself, and others will move feet first, such as KP. The taller guys tend to move with their feet, whereas if you go head first you move from the top down.
There are big differences when coaching the two. Either way, you need to make sure your head is more towards the slips and not in a central position. That makes it easier to move your feet and saves so much time when trying to take the catch.
You move your feet when batting, but it’s all about timing when you strap the gloves on and keep.Your movement and your head position all have to be in sync. You have to be flexible and be able to adapt though, because it varies depending on the surface.
You can argue it’s the same with the bat, but if you play and miss, that’s fine. If you drop a catch then we all know the potential consequences there. As a keeper, you have to be tuned in 100 per cent from ball one and maximise your
James Foster is still the best wicketkeeper in the country. England missed a trick with him – but if there was an injury now I would put him in
time practising in the conditions that you will be playing in.
Jos Buttler just shaves Jonny on the keeping front at the moment but the best keeper, not just in this country but in the world, is James Foster. England missed a trick with him, but if there was an injury now, I’d put him in.
I don’t care about his age. They picked Gareth Batty at the age of 39 and James is still a fit bloke, who averages over 37 with the bat. That’s better than most keeper-batsmen and is outstanding.
Ben Foakes is averaging in the high 30s, but there are no England bowlers in first-class cricket anymore. It’s so much easier to score runs. There are no world-class overseas pros either. Mohammad Amir is one who will be playing county cricket, and you know the keeper will be taking so many catches off his bowling at Essex next year.
Adam Wheater is another potential option over the next couple of years, and he is solid too. He is 26, but he’d learn a lot in the English environment and improve so quickly As the old saying goes, catches win matches. There were no drops behind the wicket in the first Test but again, India provides another challenge to a keeper. Moving your feet before the ball spins and reading it out of the hand, is crucial. Then you have to take the batsman out of your mind. They’ll be charging the bowler and there will be stumping opportunities, but you have to keep your eye on the ball.
Quinton de Kock missed a stumping for South Africa in their Test with Australia, and that doesn’t surprise me when you look at his technique. He takes absolute brilliant catches, but that’s because his athleticism makes up for his lack of technique. It’s like a goalkeeper in football.You can pull off a super diving save, but if you were in the right position originally, you wouldn’t have to do that.
I watch him stand up to the stumps, and there’s no doubt he can do a job, but he will miss a lot because he doesn’t move his feet quick enough, if at all. Coming over to England for the series next summer will prove a huge test for him with the ball swinging all over the place.