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The wicket-keeper in cricket is the fielding player who stands behind the batsman on
strike at the wicket.
His major function is to stop balls that pass the batsman (to prevent a run or runs) but also to attempt to dismiss the
batsman in various ways. Most common dismissal is for the wicket-keeper to catch a ball that has nicked the batsman's bat, called
an edge, before it bounces. The keeper can also stump the batsman by using the ball to remove the bails from the stumps if the batsman is out of his crease after a delivery.
When the ball is hit into the outfield, the keeper moves close to the stumps to catch the return throw from a fielder and, if
possible, to run out a batsman.
The wicket-keeper is the only fielder allowed to touch the ball with protective equipment, typically large webbed and padded
gloves and leg pads, but these are not always adequate. Famous England wicket-keeper
Alan Knott sometimes placed steaks
inside his gloves for added cushioning.
See also
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