Wicket keepers are an integral part of a cricket team as they have the authority to have a 360 degree view and also set the field. The responsibility on conceding less extra runs also rest upon them. However, the role of the wicket keepers have changed ever since players like Adam Gilchrist and Kumar Sangakkara became extraordinary batsman besides being a good keeper.
In today’s era, a wicket keeper is only selected on the basis of how he bats but the game still offers lots of excitement and surprises. There are no restrictions on a keeper to not bowl in International cricket and there have been few instances when wicket keepers have handed their gloves to someone else and tried their hands at bowling.
5- Mark Boucher
The former South Africa International has acclaimed to be one of the greatest ever wicket keepers to play the game of cricket with equally good talent of batting. However, many few know that the Proteas legend picked up a wicket in his test career.
During the test series against West Indies in 2005, Boucher picked the wicket of a young Dwayne Bravo in a test match which was turning out to be way more boring. He picked the wicket on his 8th delivery which also turned out to be his last in any form of cricket.
4- Syed Kirmani
The veteran Indian wicket keeper was part of India’s 1983 world cup winning team led by Kapil Dev. In a test match against Pakistan, the game was heading to a dull draw as India also gave the ball to the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, who had never bowled before.
Kirmani also got a shot at the ball managed to get the prized wicket of Azeem Hafeez, who opened the batting in the 2nd innings, for 18.
3- Tatenda Taibu
Irrespective of his height, Taibu went onto become one of the finest wicket keeper from Zimbabwe. However, many few know that Taibu is the only wicket keeper to bowl full quota of 10 overs in an ODI and finish with an impressive figures of 2 for 42.
2- Adam Gilchrist
The veteran Australian cricketer will be regarded as the greatest wicket keepers of the game to step on the cricket field. The veteran cricketer didn’t bowl a single delivery in his International career but he changed his job when he played for Deccan Chargers in IPL.
He tried his hands at bowling in his farewell IPL game in May 18, 2013 against Mumbai Indians. The Rohit Sharma led team needed 51 runs off the last over and it was an opportunity for Gilchrist to sway away from his gloves and get a go with the ball. Harbhajan Singh decided to take on the inexperienced bowler but ended up getting caught by Gurkeerat Singh Mann courtesy mistimed shot.
1- MS Dhoni
The veteran cricketer will end up as one of the finest wicket keeper batsman in the world with unorthodox style of keeping. While Dhoni earns a spot in the top wicket keepers in the world, he has also tried his hands at bowling. The Ranchi lad has been often spotted bowling before the start of the match but he finally took on the charge in the 2009 edition of Champions trophy where he cleaned up West Indies’ Travis Dowlin for 14.
He also bowled in the 2013 Champions trophy semi-final against Sri Lanka but went wicket-less in his quota of four overs. Its worth mentioning that Dhoni did not get to bat in both the matches where he bowled.
