Top 5 most successful bowler-wicketkeeper combinations in cricket history

May 8, 2016 at 2:27 PM

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Top 5 most successful bowler-wicketkeeper combinations in cricket history

Cricket is all about partnerships. Whether it’s a century stand in the middle of the innings or some really tight bowling spells in tandem from each end can change the course of a game swiftly. However, one of the least spoken about but one of the most intriguing partnerships in the gentleman’s game happens to be the bowler-wicketkeeper combination.

It’s quite convenient to heap praise on the bowler for inducing a fine edge, even though the wicketkeeper is equally involved in the dismissal; or point to the chinks in a batsman’s stance instead of applauding the keeper’s reflexes.

Here we have listed five of the most formidable and successful bowler-wicketkeeper combinations in the cricketing history which resulted in some interesting on-field duels.

Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher (South Africa) – 79 Dismissals

Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher
Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher

This elite list starts with the realm of quick bowler and wicket keeper combinations for the fifth spot on our countdown, which is taken up by legendary South African paceman Shaun Pollock and outstanding Mark Boucher.

A partnership that was active for 11 years between 1997 and 2008, the pair accounted for 79 dismissals in the 88 test appearances which they shared in that time. One of a number of prolific Proteas combinations during 2000, this particular partnership came to an end with Pollock’s retirement in 2008.

Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 81 Dismissals

Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist
Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist

Arguably two of the most famous and revered Australian cricketers of the modern era, both speedster Brett Lee and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist were vital parts of one of the most successful Australian test teams of all-time and accounted for 81 caught behind dismissals in the 65 test matches when they were on-field together.

Those dismissals came between the years 1999 and 2008 and were really influential in helping Australia to victory in all Ashes Series in that time bar the famous 2005 encounter and to maintain number one spot in the world rankings almost continuously between 1999 and 2007.

Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher (South Africa) – 84 Dismissals

Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher
Makhaya Ntini and Mark Boucher

We’re into our top three now and it’s time to welcome back old friend Mark Boucher for the second time within our very short list. On this occasion, the South African keeper is in combination with quick bowler Makhaya Ntini, and their partnership accounted for 84 dismissals in 96 matches between 1998 and 2009.

A top-class seam bowler who performed wonderfully in combination with the likes of Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis – Ntini took a total of 390 test wickets before his retirement in 2009.

Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist (Australia) – 90 Dismissals  

Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist
Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist

The only other man beside Boucher to appear on our list more than once is legendary Aussie keeper Adam Gilchrist, who can boast this outstanding partnership with metronomically accurate seamer Glenn McGrath as well as his earlier link up with Brett Lee.

Accounting for 90 wickets in a total of 71 tests between 1999 and 2007, caught Gilchrist bowled McGrath is the second most common entry on a test match scorecard of all-time and much of that is thanks to the wonderfully skilful and laser accurate bowling which McGrath became synonymous with through his career.

Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh (Australia) – 95 Wickets

Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh
Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh

It is another hugely successful Australian pairing who clinch top spot on our countdown, in the shape of the aggressive and pacey seam-bowler Dennis Lillee and the legendary wicketkeeper Rod Marsh who were two parts of Australia’s infamously successful and competitive test team of the 1970s and early 80s.

Arguably two of Australia’s most recognisable and popular cricketers of all-time, Lillee and Marsh were both wildly successful in their respective roles with the paceman taking a total of 355 test wickets and the keeper achieving extraordinary symmetry by recording 355 dismissals of his own (343 catches and 12 stumpings). The 95 wickets which the pair combined for came between 1971 and 1984 and took only 69 matches.

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