Most Stumpings in Test Cricket

In this article, we look at 10 wicket-keepers who have registered the most stumpings in Test cricket.

1. WAS Oldfield (Australia): 52

Oldfield, who played 54 Tests for Australia between 1920 and 1937, had 130 dismissals in 101 innings, including 78 catches and 52 stumpings. In the process, Oldfield registered the highest ratio of 0.51 stumpings per innings in Test cricket.

2. TG Evans (England): 46

Evans represented England in 91 matches between 1946 and 1959 to effect 219 dismissals in 175 innings behind the stumps. These included 173 catches and 46 stumpings, translating into 0.263 stumpings per innings.

3. SMH Kirmani (India): 38

In 88 Test matches for India from 1976 to 1986, Kirmani accounted for 198 victims in 151 innings, including 160 catches and 38 stumpings, with a ratio of 0.2516 stumpings per innings.

4. MS Dhoni (India): 38

Dhoni, who played 90 Tests for India between 2005 and 2014, equalled Kirmani’s record of 38 stumpings. In all, Dhoni contributed to 294 dismissals in 191, with 256 catches, registering a relatively high ratio of 0.2289 stumpings per innings.

5. AC Gilchrist (Australia): 37

Gilchrist was a mainstay behind the stumps in 96 Tests for Australia between 1999 and 2008. He accounted for 416 dismissals in 191 innings, including 379 catches and 37 stumpings – a ratio of 0.1937 stumpings per innings.

6. HAPW Jayawardene (Sri Lanka): 32p>Jayawardene, who played 58 Tests for Sri Lanka between 2000 and 2015, had a hand in 156 dismissals in 102 innings. With 124 catches and 34 stumpings, he accounted for 0.3137 stumpings per innings. 7. IA Healy (Australia): 29p>Healy kept wickets for Australia in 119 Tests between 1988 and 1999, helping to dismiss 395 batsmen including 366 catches in 224 innings. His 29 stumpings translate into 0.129 stumpings per innings. 8. Wasim Bari (Pakistan): 27p>Bari had a 17-year-long Test career for Pakistan in which he played 81 matches to help account for 228 dismissals in 146 innings including 201 catches.  He also had 27 stumpings, establishing a ratio of 0.1849 stumpings per innings.

9. RS Kaluwitharana (Sri Lanka): 26

>Kaluwitharana was Sri Lanka’s wicket-keeper in 49 Test matches from 1992 to 2004. He contributed to 119 dismissals in 85 innings, with 93 catches. His 26 stumpings roughly translate into 0.3058 stumpings per innings.

10. JM Blackham (Australia): 24

>Blackham kept wickets for Australia in 35 tests between 1877 and 1894, with 59 dismissals in 57 innings, including 35 catches and 24 stumpings. Thus, Blackham had the second highest ratio of 0.4210 stumpings per innings in Test cricket.

Summary

>Of all the currently active Test wicket-keepers seeking to break the record for the most Test stumpings, the candidate most likely to succeed is Sri Lanka’s N Dickwella. In 45 and 80 innings since 2014, Dickwella has accounted for 134 dismissals, including 111 catches and 23 stumpings. If the 27-year-old continues at the same stumpings-per-innings ratio of 0.2875, he will need roughly 104 more innings (or 50-odd matches) to break the record.