What does wicketkeeper mean?
A wicketkeeper is the cricket player who fields behind the wicket, the set of stumps and bails at the bowler's end. The position is distinct from the other fielding roles because the wicketkeeper stands close to the batter, receives the ball, and attempts to dismiss them. In modern cricket, the wicketkeeper is generally the only fielder permitted to wear protective gloves and external leg guards. The word appears regularly in match commentary, score summaries, and discussions of technique, such as taking a catch, stumping a batter, or preventing byes. Although wicket-keeper is still widely used with a hyphen, wicketkeeper has become an established single-word spelling. In ordinary conversation outside a sporting context, the word is usually understood by fans of cricket and may be unfamiliar to people who do not follow the game.
nounIn cricket, a wicketkeeper is the fielding player positioned behind the wicket, whose main role is to receive the ball and dismiss the batsman. The wicketkeeper is also the only fielder permitted to wear external leg guards and gloves.
- The cricket fielder stationed behind the wicket to receive the ball and dismiss the batsman.
"The wicketkeeper took a sharp edge and held on to the ball."
"The wicketkeeper claimed a return catch to dismiss the opening batsman."
"In his first-class debut, the wicketkeeper scored an unbeaten fifty."
The standard plural is formed by adding -s to the singular form.
"The two wicketkeepers exchanged places before the final over."
Behind the stumps, the wicketkeeper is the only fielder allowed to wear external leg guards and protective gloves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wicketkeeper
Wicketkeeper is a transparent English compound of wicket and keeper. In cricket usage, wicket refers to the stumps and bails guarded by the fielder, while keeper denotes a player who keeps watch, receives the ball, and prevents it from passing. The compound was historically written as two words and was later standardized as wicketkeeper, although the hyphenated spelling wicket-keeper remains common in contemporary usage.
How wicketkeeper is actually used
The term is standard in cricket commentary, match reports, and sporting discussion. The one-word spelling wicketkeeper is widely accepted, while wicket-keeper is also common, especially in British and international usage.
Easily confused with wicketkeeper
A goalkeeper defends the goal in football or hockey, whereas a wicketkeeper fields behind the stumps in cricket.