Two Wicket Keepers In Same Innings?

[RSDonovan]

I know that a team can use two wicket keepers in a match, but can they use 2 in the same innings? If the wicket keeper is injured, another fielder can substitute, but can the fielding captain decide to change keepers during an innings? I am assuming there are two good keepers on the field, as in the current game at the Oval, where Ben Brown is keeping, and Matt Prior is fielding. Could they swap at any time? Could someone point me to the law that either allows or forbids it? I have read law 40 which doesn't say.

Thanks

[Everhelpful]

Nothing to stop them changing places.

[RSDonovan]

So if a fielding team were losing on the 4th day of a match they could try to avoid defeat by changing keeper, pads, gloves etc every over (or ball!) and eventually after so much time wasted the game would be stopped due to bad light?

[daftgrandad]

Laws of Cricket.
Law 2.Para 3.
Restrictions on role of substitutes.
A substitute shall not be allowed to bat,bowl or act as wicket-keeper.

Footnote re substitutes:-
If the wicket-keeper is injured,then one of the other nominated players
must act as keeper.

On this basis Matt Prior would have to be nominated,prior to the start of
the match as the substitute keeper,in the event of injury to Ben Brown.

[RSDonovan]

Hi DG,

The question of injury does not arise, my question related to *voluntary* unforced change of wicket keeper at the captain's choice. As Everhelpful pointed out, there is nothing to stop any of the eleven players on the field (but not the 12th man [substitute] from keeping). In fact I have now found games where the keeper bowled, so Everhelpful is completely correct. My follow-up message jut pointed out that this could aid the fielding side to slow the game down considerably if that was favourable to them by changing keeper (therefore gloves, pads etc) after ever over, or in fact, after every ball! The reference you made to "nominated players" refers to any of the eleven fielders, and a fielder does not have to be nominated as a substute keeper before the innings commences - any of the eleven could be asked to take on this function.

Complicated game, cricket!

I imagine that no umpire would permit this under the "Ungentlemanly Conduct" law!

Thanks for your answer, anyway

[paulllambert]

In the same match, Surrey have three recognised wicketkeepers, Burns, Wilson and Davies.

[factor-fiction]

There are already sanctions in place to deal with slow over rates and these would come into place if there was timewasting like this happening.
But aren't there now some rules about minimum number of overs in a day?

[RSDonovan]

Yes there are slow over sanctions but they are not severe. There is a minimum number of overs in a day but as I said in the original questions, the umpires would eventually have to call a halt due to bad light.