Healy joins Marsh with 300th scalp

Anant Gaundalkar

Ian Healy became only the second wicket-keeper to be involved in over 300 dismissals behind the stumps when he took the straightforward catch of Gary Kirsten's edge at the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa at the Centurion Park.

The only person to surpass his 302 dismissals in 88 matches is Rodney Marsh, also an Australian, with 355 dismissals in 96 matches.

Ian Andrew Healy, born in Spring Hill on April 30, 1964, has been a regular member of the Australian squad ever since his debut against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi in 1988.

Details of the Australian duo who helped scalp over 300 batsmen are given below:

                                                         Total       Dismissal  

Player     Period      Tests      Catches     Stumpings  dismissals  per test   



R W Marsh  1970-71 to  96         343         12         355         3.70       

(Aust)     1983-84                                                              



I A       1988-89 to   88         282         20         302         3.43       

Healy (Aust) 1996-97                                                              

Note: Healy's figures are correct upto the end of the Test series against South Africa, ie. at the end of the 1996-97 season.