Wicket-keepers pride themselves on their stumpings. While not all wicket-keepers master the art of whipping off the bails from behind the stumps when the batsman is out of his crease, there are some who make this swift mode of dismissal look effortless. In recent times, MS Dhoni has been one such wicket-keeper whose quick glovework has helped see the back of many batsmen.
Here, we have a look at those wicket-keepers who affected the most number of stumpings in an innings of a Test.
Kiran More vs West Indies (1988)
With a target of 416 to defend in the fourth innings, India were the favourites when they faced West Indies in the fourth Test of the 1988 tour in Chennai. Wicket-keeper Kiran More must have known that he was going to be in the thick of the action, going by the deteriorating nature of the pitch in the fourth innings and with India’s spinners baying for blood.
More’s intuition, in fact, was spot on as West Indies’ batsmen struggled to read Legbreak spinner Narendra Hirwani, who was making his Test debut and went on to finish with figures of 8-75. Four of Hirwani’s scalps were a result of More’s stumpings, which helped see the back of Gus Logie, Carl Hooper, Jeff Dujon and Winston Davis. More also stumped Courtney Walsh off Woorkeri Raman’s bowling to become the only wicket-keeper in Test history to affect five stumpings in an innings as India won the Test comfortably by 255 runs.
Bert Oldfield vs England (1925)
The opening innings of the fourth Test during England’s tour of Australia in 1925 witnessed Bert Oldfield pull off four stumpings for the hosts. Oldfield stumped Sir Jack Hobbs and Dodger Whysall off Jack Ryder and Charles Kelleway’s bowling respectively. His other two stumpings were off Arthur Mailey’s bowling and Oldfield also was involved in another dismissal – making it five in the innings – after successfully taking a catch to dismiss English captain Arthur Gilligan.England eventually won the Test by an innings and 29 runs but Oldfield’s efforts behind the stumps in the match is not forgotten.
Khokhan Sen vs England (1952)
Like Oldfield, Indian wicket-keeper Khokhan Sen was involved in four stumpings in the first innings of the final Test in England’s tour of India in 1952. Unlike Oldfield’s effort – which went in vain – Sen’s contribution helped India win the match and tie the series 1-1. All four of Sen’s stumpings were from deliveries bowled by Vinoo Mankad. Sen’s swift hands ensured the dismissals of Tom Graveney, Malcolm Hilton, Brian Statham and Donald Carr. Mankad and Sen combined to stump Hilton in the second innings as well and played important roles in an innings and 8-run victory for the hosts.
Affie Jarvis vs England (1895)
Australian gloveman Affie Jarvis was also involved in multiple stumpings in a comprehensive win for his country against England. The fourth Test of England’s tour of Australia in 1895, which the hosts won by an innings and 147 runs, witnessed Jarvis involved in three stumpings during the tourists’ first innings. After Australia had scored 284 in the opening innings of the Test, Jarvis stumped Archie MacLaren as well as Andrew Stoddart off Harry Trott’s bowling and Bobby Peel off Charlie Turner’s bowling. He stumped Peel off Turner’s bowling in England’s second innings as well.
James Kelly vs South Africa (1902)
After Australia scored 252 and dismissed South Africa for a mere 85 in their first innings of the third Test of the Aussies’ tour of the African nation in 1902, James Kelly showed his quick hands by stumping three batsmen from the Proteas. Kelly stumped centurion Jimmy Sinclair as well as Maitland Hathorn off Jack Saunders’ bowling and Charlie Llewellyn off Bill Howell’s bowling to help Australia win the match comfortably by 10 wickets and wrap up the series 2-0 in their favour.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @ICC
