Wicketkeeping Footwork

Lateral and vertical footwork to track the ball without losing balance.

'Wicket' derives from the Old French 'wiket' (small gate); early cricket used a low two-stump 'gate' as the target.

Wicket-keeping as a specialist role dates to the 1770s; the modern glove-work standard was set by Bert Oldfield, Alan Knott, Ian Healy, and later Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni.

Shuffle for short adjustments, cross-step for longer dives, drop-step backward for the rising edge.

Shadow keeping with a coach pointing direction; 5-minute sets at speed.