Wicket Keeping is a skill that has always been very important for a cricket team. It is a specialist position and the players that become wicket Keepers do special training and they are the eyes of the fielding team from behind the stumps. Test Cricket has been played for 150 years and there have been a lot of great wicket Keepers over this time.
Let’s look at the Top 10 Greatest Wicket Keepers of all time in Test Cricket
1) Adam Gilchrist
The number 1 in this list and the greatest Wicket keeper of all time in Test Cricket is Adam Gilchrist. The Australian wicket Keeper is also the best batter to have been a Keeper. Adam Gilchrist played 96 Test Matches for Australia. He scored 5570 runs lower down the order at a very good average of 47.61. He smashed 17 hundreds and 1 double hundred. As a wicket Keeper he took 379 Catches and he had 37 stumpings. Adam Gilchrist changed the way wicket Keepers are looked. They also have to be a good batter.
2) Mark Boucher
The most successful Wicket keeper in the history of test Cricket is Mark Boucher of South Africa. He is the Keeper that has played the most Test Matches as a keeper. Mark Boucher made 5515 runs as a batter where he scored 5 hundreds in Test Cricket. Mark Boucher took a mammoth 532 Catches which is more than a 100 Catches than the number 2. He also has 23 stumpings to his name. Mark Boucher was an icon for wicket Keepers around the world.
3) Ian Healy
This is yet another great wicket keeper to have played for Australia. Ian Healy has played 116 Test Matches for Australia in his career. He has made 4356 runs with 4 hundreds in Test Cricket. Ian Healy was the inspiration for a lot of young players who wanted to be wicket Keepers in Australia. He took 366 catches as a wicket Keeper. Ian Healy also has 29 stumpings to his credit. At number 3 is truly deserving Ian Healy. Australia have had great wicket Keepers who can bat very well lower down the order.
4) Alan Knott
The first wicket Keeper from England in this list. Alan Knott is one of the most underrated players that England have seen. He has played 95 Test Matches for England. He scored 4389 runs where he hit 5 hundreds in Test Cricket. Alan Knott took 250 Catches as a Wicket keeper in Test Cricket. He also stumped the batters 19 times. He played test Cricket for England for 14 years and he was one of the best players in the team.
5) Rodney Marsh
The third Australian wicket Keeper in this list. Rodney Marsh was a wicket Keeper who played for Australia in the 1970s. He was one of the most popular players when he played cricket. He played 96 Test Matches for Australia. In those Matches he scored 3633 runs. He also hit 3 centuries in Test Cricket. As a wicket Keeper he was prolific as he took 343 Catches as a Wicket keeper. All the 3 Wicket keepers from Australia in this list so far have taken more than 340 Catches. Australia has always had the next great wicket Keeper ready when the previous one retires.
6) Kumar Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara is more of a batter than a Wicket keeper in Test Cricket. However he has taken enough catches that he warrants to be in this list. Kumar Sangakkara has played 134 Test Matches for Sri Lanka. He has scored 12400 runs in which he has hit 38 hundreds and 11 double hundreds. Kumar Sangakkara has taken 131 catches as a wicket Keeper in Test Cricket. He was one of the most dependable players that Sri Lanka has ever had.
7) Andy Flower
This wicket Keeper from Zimbabwe will be the only player from an associate nation in this list. Andy Flower has played 63 Test Matches for Zimbabwe. He has made 4794 runs at a brilliant average of 51.55. He has hit 12 hundreds and a double hundred. Andy Flower has taken 142 Catches as a wicket Keeper in Test Cricket. He has become a champion coach for various nations and franchises.
8) MS Dhoni
The only wicketkeeper from India in this list. MS Dhoni is the best pure Wicket keeper to have played for India. He has played 90 Test Matches for India in his career. He has made 4876 runs. He has hit 6 hundreds and a double hundred in Test Cricket. MS Dhoni has taken 256 Catches as a Wicket keeper in Test Cricket. He also has 38 stumpings to his name.
9) Jeffrey Dujon
This wicket Keeper from West Indies is number 9 in this list. He was a part of the greatest West Indies team. He played 81 Test Matches in which he made 3322 runs where he scored 5 hundreds. Jeffrey Dujon took 265 Catches as a wicket Keeper for West Indies in Test Cricket. He has been the most successful Wicket keeper that West Indies cricket has seen in this format. The downfall of the West Indies team is concerning for World Cricket.
10) Brad Haddin
The fourth wicket Keeper from Australia to feature in this list. Brad Haddin was someone who was the keeper after Adam Gilchrist. He has played 66 Test Matches for Australia. He scored 3266 runs and he hit 4 hundreds for Australia in Test Cricket. Brad Haddin took 262 Catches as a Wicket keeper in Test Cricket. All the 4 Australian wicket Keepers in this list have taken more than 260 Catches.
Also Read: Greatest Wicket Keepers in T20I Cricket
