'Excellent . . . covers every aspect of wicket keeping clearly and accurately' – Callum Morin, wicketkeeper at Hadleigh Cricket Club

Whether a player or a coach, this is the ultimate guide to developing the skills required to make it as a top-level wicket keeper.

In the most comprehensive book on wicket keeping on the market, James Knott and Andrew O’Connor provide detailed and easy-to-understand insights into all aspects of wicket keeping, whether you are a player or coach, and no matter your level.

With contributions from some of the game's great players and coaches, including Alan Knott, Jack Russell, Peter Moores and David Ripley, this invaluable guide includes over 65 training drills, a unique 'training on your own' section, and provides clear guidance for coaches who aren’t wicket keepers themselves.

Clear, insightful and easy to follow, this is an essential guide for improving your game or your coaching methods.

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• One: The Basics
  • Set-up and achieving a solid base
  • Trigger movements or pre-delivery movements
  • Watching the ball
  • Catching the ball
  • One-handed catching
  • Wicketkeeping in different countries
• Two: Stood Back to Seam Bowling
  • Where to stand
  • Set-up, pre-delivery, balance, ready position
  • Where to take the ball
  • Moving from side to side
  • Diving
  • How should I land?
  • One-handed diving catches
  • Low diving takes
  • When should I not dive?
  • Diving summary
  • Stopping and taking balls that do not carry
  • The wobbling ball
  • The flying saucer
  • Reverse swing
  • Signals with the bowler
• Three: Stood Up to Seam Bowling
  • Should I stand up?
  • Where to stand
  • Stance and set-up
  • Taking the ball
  • Taking the fuller deliveries
  • Leg-side takes
  • Should I always take the bails off after every delivery?
• Four: Stood Up to Spin Bowling
  • Where to stand
  • Stance and set-up
  • Taking the ball
  • Picking the spin bowler’s delivery
  • Leg-side takes
  • Left-arm-over bowler targeting the rough
  • Batters playing ramps and reverse sweeps
• Five: Other Dismissal Opportunities
  • The skyer
  • Run outs – direct hits
  • Sliding retrieve
  • From behind the wicket
  • Run outs – fielders’ returns
  • Stumping off a wide delivery
  • Stumping the striking batter’s runner
  • Already broken stumps dismissal
• Six: The Mental Aspects of Wicketkeeping
  • Pre-match nerves
  • Concentration
  • Mentally prepared for a chance every ball
  • Self-talk
  • Fear of failure
• Seven: Other Roles of a Wicketkeeper
  • Energising the team
  • Field placings and helping the captain and bowler
  • Mentally distracting the batter
  • Your role as a batter
  • Desirable characteristics of a wicketkeeper
• Eight: Looking After Yourself (Pre-Match Preparation, Fitness, Nutrition, Hydration, Sleep & Equipment)
  • Pre-match preparation
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • Hydration
  • Wicketkeeping in the heat
  • Sleep
  • Equipment
  • Wicketkeeping wagon wheel assessment sheet
• Nine: Training Drills
  • Agility and fast feet
  • Hand-eye co-ordination and reactions
  • Catching the ball cleanly and giving with the ball
  • Pre-match preparation
  • Footwork
  • Stood back and diving
  • Stood up to the wicket for seam and spin
  • Run outs and other dismissals
  • Training on your own
• About the Authors
• About the Players & Coaches
• Acknowledgements