First-class keeping: Most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a first-class match
Cricket has many different and wonderful aspects. One aspect of the game that often goes unnoticed and isn’t given as much credit, is that of the wicket-keeper. Wicket-keeping requires unwavering attention, focus and ability. And because wicket-keeping isn’t something that can be usually glamorised, it isn’t given its due importance. However, for a team to be successful, they need to possess a keeper who can convert even half chances into opportunities. Here is a list of most dismissals made by a wicket-keeper in a single first-class match.
5) HB Taber (New South Wales) – 12
HB Taber, the skipper and wicket-keeper of New South Wales in 1968, affected 12 dismissals against South Australia in a Sheffield Shield game at Adelaide. The dismissals included 9 catches and 3 stumpings. While in the 1st innings he took 6 catches and did 1 stumping, in the 2nd innings he was able to take 3 catches and complete 2 stumpings. He was a part of 12 of the 17 dismissals of South Australian batsmen. His efforts went in vain though as SA won the game by 7 wickets.
4) Donald Tallon (Queensland) – 12
The wicketkeeper of Queensland in the New Year first-class game against New South Wales in 1938-1939, Tallon was part of 12 dismissals. He too took 9 catches and made 3 stumpings. In the first innings, Tallon took 4 catches and 2 stumpings and in the second innings, he accounted for a total of 6 dismissals. His stellar efforts where he held on to almost everything that came his way helped Queensland win the game by 8 wickets.
3) Edward Pooley (Surrey) – 12
Edward Pooley, Surrey’s wicketkeeper long back in 1868 affected 12 dismissals against rivals Sussex, of which 8 were catches and 4 were stumpings. In the first innings where Sussex was dismissed for a paltry 98, Pooley took 5 catches and 1 stumping. In the 2nd innings, he took 3 catches and did 3 stumpings as well. His safe hands behind the stumps helped Surrey win the match easily.
2) WR James (Matabeleland) – 13
Captain and wicketkeeper of Matabeleland, WR James affected 13 dismissals against Mashonaland Country Districts in the finals of Logan Cup in 1996. The dismissals consisted of as many as 11 catches and 2 stumpings. 9 of the dismissals came in the first innings as he was a part of 9 of the 10 dismissals of Mashonaland as he took 7 catches and affected 2 stumpings. In the second innings, he took 4 more catches and helped his side win the competition.
1) Ibrahim Khaleel (Hyderabad) – 14
The record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in a first-class game belongs to Ibrahim Khaleel of Hyderabad who affected 14 dismissals against Assam in the 2011 Ranji Trophy. He took 11 catches and did 3 stumpings. In the first innings he took 4 catches and affected the 3 stumpings while in the second innings he took as many as 7 catches. For his brilliant performance with the gloves, he was also awarded the man of the match award. Khaleel now plays for the USA cricket team.
