In the final of our Top 5 Cricket specials (although to be fair, the first three were Top 10's...), we're going to look at the five most entertaining wicket keepers/batsmen.

We decided to cut it back to five because, in all honesty, the words exciting and wicket keepers haven't always gone hand in hand. Only in the past decade have keepers emerged as more than just the guy who catches the ball - he is now relied on to score runs with the bat, and often in quick fashion.

Gone are the days when they we're kept in the side as a low order batsmen. Now, it's all about becoming an entertaining batsmen who also happens to keep wickets - and they don't come more entertaining than the five we're about to look at.

Here we go:

5. Ridley Jacobs (West Indies):
Tests: 65 games, 2577 runs, 28.31 average, 47.8 strike rate; 207 catches, 12 stumpings
ODIs: 147 games, 1865 runs, 23.31 average, 70.06 strike rate; 160 catches, 29 stumpings

Jacobs definitely rates as one of the most entertaining keepers that we've ever seen. Jacobs was a powerful striker of the ball, using his massive frame to hit the ball to all areas of the ground. You would think a man of his stature would be less effective with the gloves, but as his records show he was agile enough to take a fair few stumpings during his career. Jacobs was also involved during Lara's massive 400 runs world record - the two compiled a 282 run partnership as Lara went on to make history. Jacobs may not have scored as many runs as some of the others have, but we were certainly entertained by the way he went about it.


4. Mark Boucher (South Africa):
Tests: 111 games, 4372 runs, 29.94 average, 49.88 strike rate; 406 catches, 19 stumpings
ODIs: 272 games, 4329 runs, 28.86 average, 84.50 strike rate; 378 catches, 18 stumpings

Boucher is the world record holder for Test dismissals by a keeper, and second only to Gilchrist in the ODI standings. As far as wicket keepers go, he is definitely among the best - if not the best. He is also a very important part of South Africa's batting line up, coming in down the order where he can score runs at a very quick rate. He may not be as explosive with the bat as our top three players, but he is certainly one classy player - in both forms of the game.

3. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand):
Tests: 37 games, 1790 runs, 31.40 average, 64.29 strike rate; 104 catches, 9 stumpings
ODIs: 138 games, 2637 runs, 28.66 average, 90.24 strike rate; 155 catches, 13 stumpings

McCullum is fast becoming one of the most entertaining players in the game today. His no-nonsense attitude makes him a danger for any bowler, and he is proving that he can score runs anywhere in the batting lineup. His lack of a solid defensive game may cost him at times, but it's his attacking style that makes him worth watching. He also carries his aggression with him when he keeps, and it certainly keeps the opposing batsmen in their place. The great thing about McCullum is that he keeps improving his game all the time - if he's already an entertaining player now, we can't wait to see what he'll be like in a year or two.

2. Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka):
Tests: 76 games, 6356 runs, 54.79 average, 55.85 strike rate; 153 catches, 20 stumpings
ODIs: 230 games, 6777 runs, 35.66 average, 74.42 strike rate; 209 catches, 59 stumpings

Without a doubt one of crickets most exciting batsmen - and he carries that form in both versions of the game. Sangakkara began to struggle when given the captaincy, but once he got rid of that burden he returned to the form we've come to expect from him. His abilities with the bat are outstanding, and as Black Caps fans we've become accustomed to Sangakkara scoring runs against us - as probably most teams have. They really don't come any more entertaining than Sangakkara.

1. Adam Gilchrist (Australia):
Tests: 96 games, 5570 runs, 47.60 average, 81.95 strike rate; 379 catches, 37 stumpings
ODIs: 287 games, 9619 runs, 35.89 average, 96.94 strike rate; 417 catches, 55 stumpings

Could there be anyone else at number 1? We don't think so. Gilly is the greatest opening batsman in ODI history, and definitely one of the best number 7's in Tests. You only have to look at his strike rates to know he didn't waste any time out in the middle. He liked to put on a show, and that's what he did time after time, after time. Gilchrist revolutionised the way wicket keepers played the game, transforming them from part-time batsmen into run scoring machines - and in doing so, made sure that there was no place in cricket for wicket keepers who couldn't bat. As for his keeping skills, he holds the record for ODI dismissals, and is second only to Boucher in Tests. We certainly hope they don't manage to find a replacement of his caliber in Australia. But really, how could they? There can only be one Adam Gilchrist.