Three Possible Wicket-keeping options for the test team.

There are more than enough options for the Proteas to explore with the gloves.

Wicket-keeping is one of the most important roles in cricket. This is something modern cricket has made a few people forget. Too many times, nowadays, we see a team going in with either a makeshift keeper or a part time keeper. I am particularly not very fond of such moves. If it’s not South Africa picking David Miller as their reserve keeper at a world cup, it is England snubbing Ben Foakes, who is easily their best wicket keeper, and picking someone else. The evolution of cricket has forcefully left wicket keeping behind and has resulted in wicket keeping being seen as a secondary skill. It should never be like that. As I was reading up more on this wonderful but demanding role of wicket keeping, I came across an article about wicket keeping from Sarthak. He defines wicketkeeping by saying, “Wicketkeeping is an art. It requires a lot of concentration and focus because the wicketkeeper is the only player who receives the ball maximum times in the match. He must be alert and attentive throughout the game.” If this quote alone does not serve as emphasis enough for how important wicket keeping is, then I do not know what will. As someone who took up keeping a few years ago for my teams, I have learnt that apart from keeping being important, it is a thank-less job. Anyway, that is not why we are here.

The South African test side has hardly ever found itself in need of a wicket keeper because there has always been someone in the team or in the wings. AB de Villiers could have easily succeeded Mark Boucher and there still would’ve been Quinton de Kock. However, it is Quinton de Kock who succeeded and was amazing in his very short career. I know many have mixed feelings about Quinton’s test career, but I worry that even they might actually start seeing the gap Quinton left in the side. I have been seeing it for a while now and maybe eventually, everyone else will. Especially after the recent retirement of Heinrich Klaasen. “But he only played 4 tests?“ I can almost hear many saying that as if to say he never did anything in test cricket. Yes, he played just 4 tests but very few have done well in 4 tests, especially for the Proteas, recently. His lack of impact in these 4 tests doesn't change how good he is. The fact that he has done well in First Class cricket and already has international experience, is what places him ahead of the rest. Having said that, Heini has retired, and this opens up a spot for another keeper to, at least, be looked at. Majority of SA Cricket fans would have been convinced that Kyle Verreynne would be the best replacement for Quinton de Kock as the test wicket keeper but that has not yielded anything yet. Maybe, he eventually will be but, for now it does not look that way. Kyle has scored heaps of runs for Cape Cobras and Western Province. He has come on to bat with WP in trouble and has scored match saving and match winning runs. Apart from the hundred he scored in New Zealand, there’s been very few runs from him in test cricket. He has played 16 test matches and averages 26, which is also his current age but, his numbers are not what I am worried about. Those 16 test matches have also not come consecutively, anyway. There’s a saying, “a game of two halves”. This phrase best describes Kyle’s test performances. He looks free flowing behind the stumps. Very neat with great footwork. He is also very technically sound. He is the type of keeper you end up forgetting because his keeping is so tidy and effortless. His batting on the other end, you wouldn't miss him even if you tried to. No foot movement, point of impact when he bats is way in front of him because he is just using his hands and pushing at the ball. Kyle is a talented batter, who just has serious flaws in his technique. They can all be fixed, nonetheless.

With Kyle struggling as he is, the Proteas need to look at other options. Heinrich Klaasen’s retirement has narrowed those options.

3 Wicket keeping options the Proteas can look at.

This list is in no particular order.

1) Ryan Rickelton - Ricks is arguably the unluckiest cricketer in the country at the moment. He has played only 8 tests and is just 27 years of age. Not young and not old either. One of the best in the country and he has been scoring runs for a couple of years now. He deserved a longer run in the test squad. He averages 69 for SA A and just over 50 for the Lions. Ricks isalso someone who can bat anywhere in the top 7 whether he keeps or not.

2) Sinethemba Qeshile – 24 years of age, still on the younger side. Qeshile is currently one of the form keepers in the 4-day competition where he averages over 40 for the Warriors. He has played a few SA A matches and has done fairly well there as well, scoring a 50 and a 100 at an average of 48. Qeshile had a phenomenal first season for the Warriors but seemed to struggled in his 2nd season. However, this season he has looked like the Qeshile everyone witnessed in his first season. Not taking him to New Zealand is a missed opportunity to try him out and see what he can do.

3) Rivaldo Moonsamy – Rivaldo is another wicket keeper who is currently on form. He has been doing well for the Titans and at the age of 26, he would also be a good option with the gloves. Rivaldo has worked his way up from Division 2 and was re-signed by the Titans after a good season with the bat. So far this season, he has performed really well with the bat in red ball cricket. He is cuurently the leading runscorer in the Division 1 Four day tournament.

South Africa is not short of talent, even in the keeping department. It is only a matter of picking someone and giving them enough opportunities to see what they can do. There are a few other names I have not mentioned above and that is not because they are not good enough. It is either because of age or just that I think the 3 I have mentioned are the best options to look at, at the moment. Players like Grant Roelofsen, Rubin Hermann, Meeka-eel Prince to name but a few. It will be interesting to see if Coach Shukri will stick with Kyle or will keep Clyde Fortuin, who is currently going to be the keeper in New Zealand. Maybe he will go back to Ryan Rickelton, someone who, I think should be the first option right now.