Keeping them in Reserve

(Appeared in Playing11.com)

The Indian selectors while choosing three spinners decided to not include reserve wicketkeeper for captain MS Dhoni in their World Cup squad. It was a tough decision considering the long duration of the tournament, but India seems to have learnt from the past. After all, it had a reserve keeper in the last two World Cups and he remained a mere passenger.

But then again, having Rahul Dravid in the squad meant the team had a back-up option. Looking at the other sides, it’s interesting to note that only two of sub-continent nations – India and Pakistan – who haven’t included a reserve keeper.

This is clearly because they believe they can quickly summon someone as replacement if their keepers get injured.

South Africa has a unique situation where their part-time keeper AB de villiers will have a recognised wicketkeeper – Morne van Wyk – as back-up. Both Australia and Zimbabwe also have insurance for their first choice keepers. In the case of the defending champions it’s Tim Paine who will back up Brad Haddin. While for Zimbabwe, the experienced Tatenda Taibu will have Regis Chakabva as his deputy.

The New Zealanders have not included a specialist back-up for Brendon McCullum, but Jamie How has been inducted into the squad as an emergency reserve. Though How hasn’t kept wickets in a long time. In a recent interview he even admitted to his lack of experience behind the stumps. He had said, “It's been a while since I had the gloves on… I've done a little bit through growing up and things but it has been a serious long while."

Sri Lanka have Tillakaratne Dilshan to fall back on if their captain and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara is injured. Dilshan has kept wickets before in ODIs and is more than competent to take over the gloves from Sanga if required.

Even the Windies with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the squad have an option if their first choice glovesman Carlton Baugh is incapacitated during the tournament. Minnows Kenya and Netherlands too will bring reserve keepers for the tournament.

But it remains to be seen if any of the reserves will be required to keep wickets or the World Cup will be injury-free for the glovemen.