Ranking The Five Best Wicketkeepers In World Cricket Presently

In cricket, wicketkeepers do a very thankless job. They go unnoticed for their good deeds but get criticised the moment they err. Yet, the modern-day game is glint with some of the finest practitioners of the glovework.

These wicketkeepers offer the safest hands behind the stumps and also add immense value with the bat. Effectively playing an all-rounder that lends a lot of balance to the side across formats and conditions.

Ranking The Five Best Wicketkeepers In World Cricket Presently

5. Tim Paine

Australia’s current Test captain, Paine, took the extra responsibility of leading the side when the team from down under was going through its worst phase. Paine was integral to Australia’s resurgence after the controversial ball-tampering saga.

Apart from his excellent leadership, Paine has also been a very fine wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket. He has played 33 Tests for Australia with 1,418 runs at a respectable average of 32.23, including eight half-centuries. Paine has hardly let go anything behind the stumps and is rightfully considered among the finest doing the rounds.

4. BJ Watling

Watling has been a silent giant in contemporary Test cricket. The 35-year-old is right up there among the finest to have played for New Zealand. His faultless glovework and sedate batsmanship have been vital to the Black Caps’ resounding success in recent times.

As with other Kiwi players, Watling often doesn’t feature in debates around the world’s best cricketers. But he has quietly built a legacy of sorts for himself. Watling has played 72 Tests and scored 3,766 runs at an average of 38.43. The impressive record includes eight hundreds and 19 half-centuries.

3. Jonny Bairstow

Yorkshireman Bairstow has been an integral member of the England team, especially in white-ball cricket. Bairstow was part of three lions’ 2019 World Cup-winning team under Eoin Morgan. The 31-year-old has overall featured in 70 Tests, 82 ODIs and 46 T20Is for his country.

Whether as an opener or middle-order batsman, Bairstow has been an explosive striker and impactful run-maker for England. The selfless right-hander has scored over 8,000 runs in international cricket, including 16 centuries at the highest level.

With the gloves too, Bairstow has been an ever-improving customer. His presence has only added to the depth of the English team across formats.

2. Wriddhiman Saha

Saha has shown remarkable ball sense and strength in his basics while keeping to both pace and spin throughout his career. Technically, the 36-year-old is one of the best glovemen to have ever represented India at the highest level.

In a career which initially coincided with MS Dhoni’s tenure as India captain and then got effected by injuries, Saha has only played 38 Tests for the country. But while around, he has looked a class apart with his glovework.

With the bat, Saha has averaged a modest 29.09 for 1,251 runs. But a closer look at his career stats reveals that the right-hand batsman has also scored tough runs for India. Saha has made 3 Test centuries in his career.

Two of those came in St Lucia and Ranchi in challenging conditions, against in-form attacks and with India’s backs against the wall. Those are among the finest centuries made by a wicketkeeper-batsman in modern-day Test cricket.

1. Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock has been one of South Africa’s best cricketers since the start of the last decade. The left-hand batsman and wicketkeeper has only gained in prominence within the Proteas set-up with time.

De Kock has played 48 Tests, 121 ODIs and 47 T20Is for his country and scored nearly 10,000 international runs, including 20 centuries. He has been pivotal to the team’s success in all formats of the game.

He is now also a senior figure of the team featuring quite a few young guns and has been given the captaincy duties as well. At the helm, De Kock will look to end South Africa’s longstanding trophy drought at ICC events in the coming years and try to revive their fortunes as a Test side too.