Cricket Special Report: Top 10 Wicket-keepers in the limited over game (Part 5)
(Continuation of Part 4’s discussion about the top 10 wicket-keepers, keeper at point South African Mark Boucher)
In terms of contributions in the longer format of the game, he holds a better record than the Australian veteran wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist. Boucher leads http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Gilchrist-c918 by a good 50 dismissals in the 5 day game, as he has a total of 504 dismissals, which
includes 482 catches and 22 stumps.
However, with the bat he fails to dominate the Aussie veteran wicket-keeper, as Boucher has scored 5171 runs, at an average of 30.96. He has 5 centuries and 33 half-centuries to his name, with a best of 125 in a single innings. The veteran South African
has maintained a strike rate of 50.06, with the help of 613 boundaries and 20 smashing hits out of the park.
Mark Boucher has also served his country as the vice-captain and occasionally as a skipper. Based on his vast cricketing experience and contributions to the national side, and above all, looking at his achievements, which have a lot to do with his keeping
skills, he surely is worthy of the number 2 position among the top 10 wicket keepers in the 50-over format.
Kumar Sangakkara
The current Sri Lankan skipper of all three international cricketing formats, such as, Test, ODI, and T20 cricket respectively, has dazzled the world of cricket through his exceptional talents in all the desired playing roles of the veteran. He has changed
the entire out-look of the cricket produced by the Lankan Tigers.
Previously, one would see the Sri Lankan’s going after every single given opportunity and making the most out of what they had at hand. Now the new age Lankan tigers are more organised, and for once, one can experience a professional approach from the Asian
tigers.
Kumar Sangakkara is considered to be one of the all time greatest batsmen produced by this Asian cricket fanatic nation. The skipper has also shown skills and made some extra-ordinary records, while wearing the gloves. His contribution to the nation side
is immense in all cricketing departments.
The veteran left hand dashing wicket keeper holds a phenomenal dismissals record in the limited version of the sport. He has made 230 appearances with the gloves, from the massive of 278 ODI’s he has played. Sangakkara has a total of 325 dismissals to his
name, in which 255 catches and 70 stumping are included.
The reason for his large number of stumps comes from the mere fact, that his national team has one of the finest orthodox slow spin bowlers and the skipper is seen to stand up even when pace bowlers are operating, to enforce that extra level of pressure
upon the batting side. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. His
vast cricketing skills include keeping, batting and orthodox off-break bowling. He has served several cricket teams such as Sri Lankan national team, Asia XI, Central Province, Colombo District Cricket Association, ICC World XI, Kandurata, Kings XI http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Punjab-c833,
Marylebone Cricket Club, Nondescripts Cricket Club and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Warwickshire-c862 respectively.
The veteran holds an exceptional record with bat in the limited version of the game, as he has scored 8604 runs, in 261 innings from 278 ODI matches. He has also maintained an average of 36.92, with a best of an unbeaten 138 runs in a match. He has also
maintained a strike rate of 75.47, which is well assisted by 857 boundaries and 37 sixes. Not to forget, the 10 centuries and 58 half centuries.
His credentials with bat in Test cricket speak for themselves, as he has scored 8016 runs, at an average of 56.85. The veteran has 23 centuries and 33 half centuries to his name, with an innings best of 287 runs. He has also maintained a strike rate of 55.85,
with the help of 1029 boundaries and 24 smashing hits out of the park.
(To be continued...Part 6)
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