Jos Buttler: 10 things you didn’t know about wicket-keepers

1. Yes, wicket-keepers do notice all the fancy dress costumes in the crowd

“In any cricket match it’s quite a long day to be concentrating, so when you get a break in between deliveries you do have a look around the ground and see what the fans are up to. You might have a chat with the guys in the slips about anything you see. We sometimes talk about something funny that might have happened last night. If you had a nice dinner you might have a chat-chat about that. It just keeps you going so you’re ready to concentrate on the next delivery.”

^{'Here, mate, the cricket's over there'}

^{(Photo: Alamy)}

2. Wicket-keepers don’t automatically want to be goalkeepers

“The whole team plays football as a warm-up before training and everyone enjoys it. I’m more of a box-to-box player. I try to work as hard as I can. One to watch is Moeen Ali. He doesn’t do much when we’re playing football but he does score goals. He stays up front and is pretty lethal in front of goal.”

^{Moeen 'The Poacher' Ali (Photo: Getty)}

3. Stamina is crucial in cricket matches - even for the glovemen

“Most cricket games go on for a long time so you have to have good stamina. As a wicket-keeper you spend a lot of time waiting around and then you have to suddenly sprint or dive or jump so I try to replicate that in training sessions. For example, in running sessions I do maybe 4-5 sets of six 40m sprints, with 15 seconds of rest in between. That kind of repetitive sprint training is good for building stamina.”

^{Jos Buttler lies down on the job (Photo: Getty)}

4. Porridge and spaghetti bolognese help you last the day

“For breakfast before a match I normally eat porridge with banana, blueberries and honey which sets me up nicely for the day ahead. I might have some salmon and scrambled eggs too. On the night before a game I like to have some form of pasta like spaghetti bolognese. I also quite like a steak - I’m not sure it’s the best option before a game but the protein must be good for muscle recovery anyway.

"I’m average in the kitchen. I can follow a recipe and I could make you breakfast, a curry or a stir fry but that’s it.”

^{Porridge: the breakfast of wicketkeepers}

5. Keepers have to be explosive - just like boxers and tennis players

“A lot of the movements wicket-keepers make are really explosive. And you have to be able to repeat those movements over a long period of time too. So I do a lot of box jumps and jump squats with a weight on my back. I sometimes super-set a power exercise with a strength exercise, so I might do a normal squat followed by a jump squat.

"It’s all about trying to make my training directly relevant to what I am doing in the middle.”

Jos Buttler demonstrates his athleticism

6. Wicket-keepers do the same training drills as Usain Bolt

“Sprint speed and quick reactions are really important for wicket-keepers so we train with vests that have bungee cords attached to them. You have to run quickly against the resistance so it’s a good way to increase power.”

7. We ramp up our reactions in training

“I do a lot of wicket-keeper specific training which normally involves catching balls close-up. We use a ramp which deflects the ball at different angles. The thrower will alter the pace so you have to time your reactions. Fast throws are best for training your reactions and slower throws are good for training your technique.”

8. Core is key for keepers

“We do plenty of strength work around the trunk and core because we have to do a lot of rotation movements and dive around. I do things like medicine ball throws and Russian twists. Stability exercises like planks are good too.”

_{Buttler celebrates a wicket for England against New Zealand}

9. Routines help you focus

“Before every delivery I follow a little routine to get set. I do the same routine every time, over and over again, and it just helps you stay focused.

"You can’t beat the feeling when you take a catch. That’s when all your training comes off. I took a good one down the leg side at Lord's recently.

"But if you make a mistake you have to put it behind you straight away. That is one of the hardest things in cricket. We’re all human and make mistakes and you’ve just got to let it go.”

10. The grub at Lord's is the best

“The meals we get at Lord's are fantastic. You get to sit down and make your order from the blackboard. For lunch I tend to have fish. If it’s a batting day and I’m not needed for a bit I might have a dessert as well. During the game I try to eat a little and often - a few Jelly Babies are good for a bit of energy. Tea is normally a few sandwiches and maybe a protein bar.

"If a cake is on offer too, why not?”