When a professional fast bowler is bowling, most wicket keepers will stand about 20 meters away from the batsman. When a spinner bowls, the wicket keeper will go closer to the stumps and stand behind them. This is because various types of bowlers achieve varied bounces. A bouncer would be expected to bounce high if thrown hard enough, so keepingers need not fear being hit by balls which don't reach their target.
Younger keepers may prefer to stand even further away from the action. The advantage of this approach is that it makes throwing out runners with ease; any ball thrown toward the wicket-keeper can be returned for runs. The disadvantage is that it makes running between the wickets more difficult. Keepers who stand too far away from the action risk not getting to spots where run-outs are possible.
In domestic cricket, there is no standard distance that keepers should stand from the batting side during deliveries. However, in Test matches and ODI games, the wicket-keeper stands at least 30 meters from the striker's position. This gives him plenty of room to work with while not interfering with the flight of the ball.
In first-class cricket, the rule is that the keeper must be within 15 yards of the wicket when the bowler begins his run-up. This means that he cannot leave that area until after he has released the ball.
A wicketkeeper often stands well back, roughly 15-20 yards for a fast bowler. They stand directly behind the stumps for spinners. The distance is mostly determined by the bowler's speed and the pitch's action. On slow pitches, they can stand even further back if there is room behind them.
In general, the more runs that are scored off the ball, the farther away you can keep your wicketkeeper. This is because they need to be able to see the ball being hit towards them with enough time to run across and take their position before it bounces. However, on faster pitches or where many low balls are hit into fielders, they can be kept closer to the stumps.
The main factors in deciding how far back you should keep your wicketkeeper are the type of bowling you will face and the condition of the pitch. If you have plenty of time before the next ball is due, you could go as far back as you like. Otherwise, stay within comfortable running distance of the stumps.
Overall, you need to decide what is best for your team. If you want to score lots of runs off fast bowlers but look weak against spin, then keep your wicketkeeper close. Alternatively, if you prefer having the chance of saving runs with every ball, keep your wicketkeeper far back.
A top-tier wicket keeper must be excellent at estimating the amount of spin that the spinner will receive, as well as spotting any changes that the spinner bowls. They are also in charge of catching the ball and "stumping" the batter if he or she leaves the crease. All this means that they need to be agile and have fast reflexes.
In addition, a good wicket-keeper needs to have strong hands and wrists. This is because they often have to catch balls with great force behind them.
Finally, they need to have an accurate throw. This is important, since they will often have to throw the ball long distances into unoccupied spaces.
In short, a good wicket-keeper needs to be quick on their feet, have strong arms and wrists, and have an accurate throw.
Furthermore, while the distance between the batsman and the bowler is 58 feet, the batter's wicket is 4 feet (1.2 m) from the batting crease, requiring the ball to travel 62 feet (19 m) to bowl the batsman. This means that if a bowler aims accurately he can deliver a ball at any point along this line.
In addition, while standing with his legs shoulder-width apart, a cricketer's reach is 3 feet 9 inches (1.13 m). The length of a cricket bat is 10 feet 6 inches (3.23 m), so the ball is usually delivered well outside the batsman's reach.
However, as many balls are bowled wide of the wicket, some wayward deliveries do come inside the batsman's reach. If this happens then the umpire will call "wide" and give him time to move out of the way. If he fails to do so then he is out bowled.
The term "batted on the head" comes from an incident during an English county game when John Gunnett was dismissed by George Lohmann for nought out. According to local tradition, Gunnett had been "batted on the head" by Lohmann after the Durham captain had refused to take no for an answer when asked if he wanted to proceed with the shot.
In cricket, the wicket-keeper is the fielding side player who stands immediately behind the stumps at the striker's end. The wicket-keeper is one of the most crucial players of the team since he must continuously be on the lookout for catches, stumping opportunities, and run outs. Additionally, he or she must communicate any signs of danger during a shot so that their partner can intervene if necessary.
The role of the wicket-keeper is similar to that of a fielder in other sports. However, because he or she is standing behind the stumps, the wicket-keeper needs to be able to move around easily while keeping an eye on the field. This means that they usually do not stay in one place for too long.
Additionally, since they are involved in so many different activities, it is important that the wicket-keeper is well trained and has good eyesight. This position also requires someone who can work under pressure since there may be moments when there is need to make a decision quickly upon spotting a chance.
Finally, although not all wicket-keepers keepers are captains of the team, since the role is very important they often take over from a retired or injured captain. A wicket-keeper who does not keep is instead called a slip cordon or a mid-off.
There are several types of wickets: straight, bent, hooped, sloping.