Wicket-keepers used to Put Raw Steaks in Gloves

Back in days, it was not easy to keep the lethal quicks. The padding was not that great in keeping gloves and it was dreadful to keep the 90+ miles/hour bowlers. Keepers always tried to find out a way to protect the palm. Some even put plasticine between two pairs of chamois inners to absorb the blows from fast bowlers. However, the most bizarre technique was to insert raw steaks in gloves.

Barberton Halliwell, the first of great South African wicket-keepers was the first keeper to put the raw steaks inside the gloves. He used to stand up to the fast bowlers and it helped him to neutralize the blow from quicks to some extent.

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Aussie Iron Gloves Rod Marsh also used raw steaks while keeping to the ferocious pace of Lillee and Thomson. England’s Alan Knott used raw steaks inside the gloves too.

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References:

• espncricinfo – Barberton Halliwell
• cricketcountry
• cricketcountry – Barberton Halliwell
• insidesport

Featured Image Credit: michael weir – unsplash  (resized as per the need)