Who is W.I best wicket keeper?


Dowrich replaced by Da Silva after taking blow to the face

 Seeing Pakistan Mohammad Rizwan kept wicket in England's first innings so immaculately, I pondered the question. Who is the best wicket keeper in the West Indies? Watching Rizwan was a show all by itself, the way he came up to the stumps to the fast medium bowlers and collected the ball with great ease. He caught supremely to the spinners too, Joe root dismissal was a brilliant catch. 

Who is the region best gloves-man? A young Ramdin was very impressive. He kept well for years but his batting deteriorated . He did not seem motivated as he should. Although, his batting improved a bit when he was made captain. I am disappointed that he didn't fight back for his place when he was dropped. Is he still our premiere wicket keeper?

Shane Dorwich keeping has come under the spotlight recently as he struggled to collect the ball as it wobbled past the wicket. The Shannon Gabriel delivery that hit Dorwich in the face was ugly. It highlighted the challenges that Dorwich faced particularly in the final two tests. However, Dorwich is a reliable lower order batsman. If he continues to bat well, his keeping flaws will be overlooked.

Da Silva looked competent and enthusiastic when he replaced Dorwich in the final test match of the recent series against England even though he missed a simple stumping. It also appears that he can bat as he showed in the warm up games. He averages 33 at the first class level but he has only played 16 first class matches. He needs to perform and make a claim in the next first class season. 


Hope and Pooran keep wickets in limited overs cricket and are decent. However, they are perceived as better batsmen than keepers. Should W.I select the best gloves-man or the best batsman that can keep wicket? The value of a good Wicket Keeper is priceless.  Dorwich has performed decently for a while but his challenges in England has invoke a conversation. West Indies should persist with him but someone else must put pressure on the selectors so Dorwich like Ramdin does not become complacent.


Correspondent 

C.W. Forrest


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