5 wicket-keepers who had short but memorable careers

There is a reason why wicket-keepers are referred to as the backbone of the fielding unit in any cricket team. In a day and age when flamboyant batting and mystique in the bowling have grabbed attention, the wicket-keepers continue to be the most unassuming entities like they have always been.

They are one of the most unassuming people in the cricketing field. It is almost taken for granted that they will go about doing their jobs. So much so that even a flashy moment of brilliance slips under the radar, with the notion that it is all part of their jobs. These things have never baffled them, they go through their motions, keep on crouching behind the stumps, almost galvanising the team around them. They set the tone in the field, assist the captain in setting the fields, dictate the angles in the field, and almost carry the team along.

Gone are the days, when wicket-keepers were only sound gloveman, today they are expected to score runs too, and not just some meagre contribution, but match-winning ones. The roles have evolved over the years, and they have become impact players for their teams.

Here we take a look at 5 wicket-keepers who had a brief stint at the international stage, grabbed eyeballs but then fizzled out.

#1 Vijay Yadav (India)

An effective wicket-keeper and a useful lower order batsman, Vijay Yadav came into the Indian team after a string of notable performances for Haryana in the domestic set up. He was included in the touring India side to South Africa, but could only get one game on that tour.

However, he is best remembered as being the wicket-keeper in that famous semi-final of the Titan Cup in Eden Gardens when Sachin Tendulkar bowled the final over and did not allow the Proteas to score 6 runs in it.

Yadav was one animated figure on the ground as he constantly moved up to captain Azharuddin and Sachin to formulate tactics. His keeping was brilliant all through the over as he stopped the ball on almost 3 occasions. On the final ball, he moved back to stop any edge and that came true as he collected the final ball and India scripted a memorable win by 2 runs.

His career did not kick on, but he will always be remembered for this match.

#2 Geraint Jones (England)

Ever since he got his National call-up, Jones was always a hotly debated topic everywhere in England. He had a vocal supporter in his coach Duncan Fletcher who believed that Jones had the potential to do great things for England.

He did repay this faith to some extent, during that 2005 Ashes series. Widely believed as the best Ashes series to have been ever played, Jones was one of the architects during the series. His moment arrived late on the 5th day during the second test match at Edgbaston when he dived across to latch on to a catch offered by a ducking Michael Kasprowicz Steve Harmison and handed England the narrowest win by 2 runs.

Apart from this he also contributed with the bat during the series and his vital contribution of 85 during the 4th test match at Trent Bridge and forged a critical partnership with Andrew Flintoff. England went on to win this match by 3 wickets.

However, he could not replicate his performances during the 2006 Ashes in Australia and lost his place in the side, after which he never could get into National contention. A career which was brief but very memorable indeed!

#3 Courtney Browne (West Indies)

Browne was part of the transitional phase of West Indies cricket where many players were brought in and then benched, all too quickly. He got his maiden call-up against Australia in 1995. However, after few indifferent performances was dropped.

He then received a call up during the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy, and this was where attained his silverware. In a historic moment for West Indies cricket, Browne combined with Ian Bradshaw to stitch a memorable partnership of 71 for the ninth wicket. This partnership helped West Indies lift the trophy for the very first time.

However, Browne's career was once again cut short, this time for good when he was dropped and thus retired a year later.

#4 Sadanand Viswanath (India)

The Karnataka cricketer was selected for the Indian team for the 1985 World Championship in Australia. The team won the series and also was victorious in the following series in Sharjah.

His contribution did not go unnoticed and even Sunil Gavaskar claimed that "People will talk about many other reasons why we won the World Championship of Cricket in 1985 but one of the main reasons was the presence of Sadanand Vishwanath behind the stumps."

However, he did not quite live up to the lofty standards, and many believe that the untimely death of his parents may have had an impact on him.

In his brief Test career which lasted for only 3 matches, he had a world record as he claimed six catches against Sri Lanka in what would be his final Test to equal the Indian mark.

Sadly it was a career which promised much, but could not realise it.

#5 Tim Ambrose (England)

A career that was sidelined at the age of 26, many in England believe that Tim Ambrose was never given his due by the selectors. In 11 matches, he scored 3 fifties and 1 hundred and was an exceptional gloveman. However, this was not good enough for the National selectors who sent him back to play country cricket and even though he kept scoring runs, Ambrose never received another call-up.

Ambrose scored a fifty on debut against New Zealand and then followed it with a century in the next match, but eventually lost the race to Matt Prior, both at Sussex and then for England.

A longer hope could have given Ambrose more chances to establish his credentials more firmly, both in front as well as behind the wickets.