Wicket keeping is one of the most underrated, yet difficult, arts in cricket. It requires excellent eye-hand co-ordination, combined with testing degrees of fitness and concentration.

The 'keeper is the engine room of the team, making poor deliveries and wayward returns look good, and offering tactical advise to the captain based on his unique view of proceedings.

When spirits flag during long partnerships, he must give the side hope with an encouraging word as he is usually the only man on either team involved in every delivery of the innings.

The above menus will prepare the wicketkeeper technically to handle the most difficult of pitches, and the ever present threat of being unsighted by the batsman's body when standing up.

Efficient wicketkeeping is one of the greatest challenges in cricket. If you have someone prepared to endure this often thankless task, treasure and nurture him.

There are a number of batsman and bowlers in a team but there is only one wicketkeeper, and because of the nature of his job it might be as well to identify some of the qualities necessary.