5 wicketkeepers who turned out to be good fielders

Cricket, like any other team game, often requires players to be at the top of their fitness. The players are often advised to maintain a balance between their mental and physical standards. However, there is one part of the game that is considered to be of prime importance by every team these days - fielding. A player with good fielding abilities is often considered to be an asset to the team for he has the ability to come up with some surprises on the field.

Modern day cricket has witnessed some incredible turnarounds where the wicketkeepers have gone on to become the guardians of the outfield. Their quick reflexes and precise hand-eye coordination have helped them gain some recognition with regards to their fielding as well.

On that note, we look at the top 5 wicketkeepers who went on to become pretty good fielders when the situation demanded.

#1 AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers needs no introduction when it comes to his batting skills. The South African batsman possesses every shot in the book and even has the ability to out-think the bowler when it comes to being innovative.

Popularly known as Mr. 360, de Villiers burst onto the international scene in 2004 as a wicketkeeper-batsman. There were hardly any questions regarding his batting, but the presence of the great Mark Boucher meant that he had to sacrifice his wicketkeeping. The right-hander gladly obliged and though he was used in the outfield by the South Africans, little did they know what he was capable of.

The Pretoria-man turned out to be electric on the field and outclassed some of the great Proteas. His agility and smart thinking made him one of the best in the world.

What made him special was his ability to field anywhere on the field. While his acrobatic skills came in handy in the ring, his quick feet and safe hands allowed him to guard the boundary line as well.

Though he has had the struggle of juggling a career with and without the wicketkeeping gloves, the man, at 32, still displays the same energy and enthusiasm on the field as he did when he first stepped into the scene.

#2 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum defied the laws of gravity while fielding during his illustrious career.

Being an explosive batsman is never an easy job, especially when you have to open the innings. Brendon McCullum not just did it with ease but was consistent throughout his stint as New Zealand's wicketkeeper-batsman. The former Kiwi skipper was an amazing athlete and took some blinders behind the stumps. He was often effective in pre-determined saves when it came to batsmen playing the sweeps and reverse-sweeps.

However, McCullum had to hang up his gloves after a series of injuries. The man from Dunedin faced a career-threatening situation due to his back problems. While this ruled him out from wicketkeeping, McCullum seemed to be pretty comfortable when stationed in the outfield.

The big-hitter displayed the same athleticism and acrobatic skills even without the gloves. His determination while patrolling the outfield made him a deadly fielder who could surprise teams with his pace and strong throws.

#3 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik proved to be one of India’s acrobatic fielders.

Dinesh Karthik is one of few Indian wicketkeepers who have found it difficult to seal a permanent spot in the Indian team due to the presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However, the man from Tamil Nadu has made a name for himself in the little time that he has had. Dinesh Karthik burst onto the international scene in 2004. The right-hand batsman was in and out of the team for a while before finally making a mark in the Indian Test team.

However, the emergence of Dhoni meant that Karthik had to pave way for the man from Ranchi. Karthik made use of the few chances that he got at the international stage but rarely did he get to keep wickets.

The right-hander was a strong guardian inside the circle during power-plays and a swift deep fielder. He turned out to be one of India’s most acrobatic fielders in the end. The stunner that he took to send Graeme Smith back to the dugout in the 2007 World T20 still stands to be one of the most memorable catches in Indian cricketing history. Karthik's fielding earned him praises from several Indian cricketers with a few even going on to call him one of the best Indian fielders of all-time.

#4 Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal’s safe hands always made him an obvious choice for close-in fielding.

Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal is a vital cog in the current Lankan squad. The right-hander made his international debut in 2010 against New Zealand. While as a batsman he made a mark on the international stage very early in his career, his wicket-keeping skills had to wait for a while. The presence of Kumar Sangakkara meant that though he made it to the playing XI, he was just used as a batsman and not as a wicket-keeper batsman.

Chandimal didn't disappoint the team as he impressed everyone with his fielding skills. The batsman was a strong deep fielder with a good throwing arm. His athleticism made him even more special as he could make some crucial stops.

The duo of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chandimal often made it difficult for the batsman to score through the cover point region. He was often used as a close-in fielder in the Test matches given his safe pair of hands. The youngster wasn't an acrobatic fielder but was more than just reliable.

The retirement of Sangakkara ultimately saw Chandimal don the keeping gloves for his country.

.#5 Andre Fletcher

Andre Fletcher has a great vision for the ball and often positions himself in the right areas on the field.

West Indies cricket has the knack of producing some extraordinary fielders. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons have often proved to be electric on the field. Following them closely on the list is youngster Andre Fletcher.

The explosive right-hand batsman made his international debut in 2008, however, it was in the World T20 in England in 2009 that he caught everyone's eye. The opening batsman came into the squad as a back-up wicketkeeper for Dinesh Ramdin but never really got an opportunity to don the wicketkeeping gloves. He has played as a wicketkeeper in only 6 of his 25 International ODIs. However, Fletcher has not let the team down whenever he has been asked to protect the outfield.

The big West Indian has a good throwing arm and has often been involved in some terrific run-outs. He may not be as athletic as his counterparts, but the right-hander makes it up with his vision for the ball and safe hands. The 28-year old juggles between his roles even when he plays for the St. Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League.