Young Cricketer. "Yes, I cocked one off the splice in the gully and the blighter gathered it." Father. "Yes, but how did you get out? Were you caught, stumped or bowled, or what?" Cartoon fromPunch, 21 July 1920.
This is a generalglossary of the terminology used in the sport ofcricket. Where words in a sentence are also defined elsewhere in this article, they appear in italics. Certain aspects of cricket terminology are explained in more detail incricket statistics and the naming of fielding positions is explained atfielding (cricket).
Cricket is known for its rich terminology.[1][2][3] Some terms are often thought to be arcane and humorous by those not familiar with the game.[4]
Ashot which is played with thebat moving lateral to the direction of motion of theball. Used when thebatter is aimingsquare or behind square, but requires excellenttiming. Considered risky, as mistiming the shot can result in aleading edge, beingstrangled, or missing the ball entirely and beingoutbowled orleg before wicket.[citation needed]
A powerfulslog shotacross the line (resembling ascything motion), played with little technique orfootwork, particularly one that damages thepitch with thebat. May result in the ball going tocow corner.[6][7]
Air
Adelivery by aspin bowler on a higher trajectory than usual, typically phrased as 'giving it some air'. The termflight is a near synonym.[5] Can be combined withtop spin orback spin to deceive the batter on thelength of the delivery, or withoff spin orleg spin to give the ball more time todrift.
All out
Theend of an innings due to the batting side running out ofwickets, usually because ten of the elevenbatters have beendismissed. It also applies if a total of ten players (in any combination) haveretired, are absent from theground, or have been dismissed, leaving only one available batter remaining. The term is a slight misnomer, as there is always one batter leftnot out.[5]
Traditionally, a player adept at bothbatting andbowling.[8] Some recent sources regard awicket-keeper/batter as another type of all-rounder, but this usage is not universal.[5]
Amateur
1. A cricketer who plays for pleasure, not pay. A non-professional.[5]
2. A former official distinction between players of differingsocial class, important in 18th and 19th century England. Amateurs (also known asgentlemen) wereupper class, had usually been toprivate school and/orOxbridge, and could claimexpenses but not receive any other payment. Professionals (also known asplayers) wereworking class, paidwages, and relied on cricket as their primary source of income. Mostcounty cricket teams consisted of a mix of amateurs and professionals; thecaptain was always an amateur. The annualGentlemen vs Players match pitched the two classes against each other. The distinction became obsolete in the early 20th century and was finally abolished in 1962.[5]
Abatter who remainsin for a long time, scoring at a moderatestrike rate whilst preserving theirwicket by avoiding riskyshots. A less defensive and more flexible version of ablocker.Top- ormiddle-order batters may adopt an anchor role if the other batters experience abatting collapse.[9]
Abowler orfielder asking theumpire todismiss thebatter, usually by shouting 'howzat' (how's that?). Variations include 'howzee' (how's he?), or simply turning to the umpire andcheering.[8] The umpire cannot give a batterout unless the fielding side appeals, even if the criteria for a dismissal have otherwise been met.[5] Batters who are obviously out (e.g.bowled or indisputablycaught) will normallywalk from the field without waiting for an appeal.
Avariation bowled by afinger spinner, which appears to be theirstock ball but does notspin. Such adelivery does notturn when bouncing but travels straight on i.e. following theline of the bowler's arm, hence the name. An arm ball might alsoswing.[1]
Around the wicket
(orround the wicket)
A right-handedbowler passing to the right of the non-striker's stumps in their run-up, and vice versa for a left-handedbowler. The opposite ofover the wicket.[10]
The trophy for theEngland vAustraliaTest match series.[5] The Ashes originated as a result of a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper,The Sporting Times, in 1882 after a match atThe Oval in which Australia beat England on an English ground for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English press dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain The Ashes. During that tour a small terracotta urn was presented to England captainIvo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women. The urn is reputed to contain the ashes of one or twobails.[5]
A fielding configuration in which more fielders are close in to thepitch so as to takecatches more readily, at the risk of allowing more runs to be scored.[5]
Attacking shot
An aggressive or strong hit by the batter designed to score runs.[11]
1. Whenbatting, the foot that is closest to thestumps. For aright-hand batter'sstance, the back foot is the right foot; for a left-hand batter it is the left foot.[5]
2. Whenbowling, the foot which contacts the ground before thefront foot i.e. the back foot is the second contact before the ball is released. Usually the back foot is also thebowling foot, unless the bowler'saction is off thewrong foot.[11]
The point in abowling action when theback foot lands on the ground, just beforerelease of the ball.
Back foot shot
Ashot played with thebatter's weight on theirback foot.[8] Most commonly used when aiming behindsquare.
Back spin
(Alsounder-spin.) Adelivery with a backward spin, so that after pitching the ball immediately slows down, or bounces lower and skids on to thebatter.[8]
Backing up
1. Thenon-strikingbatter leaving their crease during thebowler'saction, before theball isreleased. This shortens the distance the non-striker will need to cover to score arun, if thestriker completes ashot. Backing up too far or too early risks arun out, either by one of thefielders, or by thebowler in amankad.[11]
2. Afielder placing themselves on the far side of thewicket from a team-mate who is throwing theball at thestumps to attempt arun out. The fielder who is backing up can then recover the ball if the throw misses the stumps, thereby preventingoverthrows.[11]
Lifting the bat in preparation to hitting the ball.[11]
Badger
A particularly enthusiastic cricketer, someone with an extreme love of the game.[15]
Bad light
In a match played during the day, "bad light" refers to the umpires taking the players from the field because the ambient light has dimmed to the point that the ball has become difficult to see. Done for both fairness and the safety of the batters.[16] Often shortened simply tolight. See alsooffer the light.
A cricket cap ofmyrtle green colour, which has been worn by Australian Test cricketers since around 1900. The cap is a symbol of Australian cricket, and the term is strongly associated with national cricketing pride.
1. The spherical object which thebowler propels towards thebatter, who may attempt to hit it with thebat. Constructed of leather stitched around a cork core. Ared ball is used intimed matches (or apink ball forday/night cricket), whilst awhite ball is used inlimited overs cricket.
2. A singledelivery. Eachover contains six (legal) balls.[1]
Illegally modifying the condition of theball, usually by afielder to facilitateswing bowling. Ball tampering is a form ofcheating, so accusations are often controversial.
Ball tracking
Acomputer vision system that determines the location of theball, tracks its motion, and predicts its future trajectory. Used by thethird umpire in thedecision review system to assessLBW appeals, and by coaches or commentators to analyse player performances.[1] Common brands includeHawk-Eye andEagle-Eye,[17] which are sometimes used asgenericised trademarks for the concept.
Bang (it) in
To bowl adelivery on a shorterlength with additional speed and force. The bowler is said to be "bending their back" when banging it in.
A typical cricket bat, showing the front and back with the main parts labelled
The wooden implement which thebatter uses to hit the ball. Usually constructed in two pieces, the rectangular-sectionedblade and cylindricalhandle, which are joined at thesplice.[11]
Bat-pad
A fielder placed close to the batter on the leg side to catch the ball if it hits the bat and pad (in either order), and rises to a catchable height. Also a defence against being given outlbw, that the ball may have hit the bat first, however indiscernible.[1]
A player on the batting side, or one of the two members of the batting side who are currently at the crease, or (in the context of a player's career) a player whose speciality is batting.[1] The term 'batsman' was used for most of the game's history, regardless of the player's gender, but the moregender neutral term 'batter' began to be adopted in the 2010s and was made official in theLaws in 2021.[18][19]
The average number ofruns scored perinnings by abatter, calculated by dividing the batter's total runs scored by the number of times the batter was out.[11]
Batting collapse
When several batters are dismissed in rapid succession for very few runs. The termstop order collapse ormiddle order collapse may refer to batting collapses in a specific part of thebatting order.
Batting for a draw
Defensivebatting in atimed match by a team with little chance of victory, who are instead attempting to salvage adraw. Thebatters seek to survive as manyballs as possible before losing theirwicket, without attempting to score manyruns and avoiding aggressiveshots. Sometimes regarded as boring to watch, and sometimes as producing tense finishes.[20][21]
Adelivery that reaches thebatter above waist height without bouncing. This is illegal and an automaticno-ball.[1] Further sanctions are applied to repeat offences, though the exact rules have changed several times. Since 2019, if theumpire believes that the beamer was dangerous and risked injury to the batter, they issue a first and final warning to thebowler; a second dangerous delivery results in the bowler being banned from bowling for the remainder of thatinnings.[23]
Beat the bat
When abatter narrowly avoids touching the ball with the edge of their bat, through good fortune rather than skill. Considered a moral victory for thebowler. The batter is said to have been beaten. In some cases, this may be expanded to "beaten all ends up".[24]
Beehive
A diagram showing where a number of balls, usually from a particular bowler, have passed the batter.[25] Compare pitch map.
Beer match
In club cricket, where the scheduled game ends early, a friendly match concocted to fill in time, originally where licensing hours would have prevented the teams from retiring to the pub, but also for love of the game. Often played with an unusual format, such as "reverse batting order", "every outfielder must bowl", or "bats retire at 25".
Belter
A belter of a pitch is a pitch offering advantage to the batter.[1]
Bend the back
Of apace bowler, to put in extra effort to extract extra speed or bounce.[1]
A series of fundraising events to reward a long-serving player, typically those who have played over a decade for a singlecounty cricket team, shortly before the player retires. Similar in concept totestimonial matches played in other sports.
Best bowling
Thebowling analysis with the mostwickets taken in aninnings; the fewestruns conceded are used as a tie-breaker. This can be used to compare differentbowlers within a singlematch, or to highlight the best performance by an individual over an extended period, such as aseason or their whole career. The equivalent for batters is thehigh score.
Biffer
slang term for an attacking batter. A biffer is the opposite of a blocker, being a defending player. In earlier times (particularly pre-World War II) cricketers were eitheramateur (Gentlemen) orprofessional (Players). Typically, but not universally, amateurs would be "biffers" and professionals "blockers". The word derives from the slightlyarchaictransitive verb, "biff" which means "hit". Today, biffers tend to be known asbig hitters.
Bite
the turn a spin bowler is able to produce on a pitch.[3]
A defensiveshot, intending to stop theball safely without attempting to scoreruns. The most common form of block is theforward defensive.[24]
Blocker
slang term for a defensive or slow-scoring batter, the opposite of biffer. In earlier times (particularly pre-World War II) cricketers were eitherprofessional oramateur. Typically, but not universally, amateurs would be "biffers" and professionals "blockers". The word derives from the natural tendency of such batters to "block" eachdelivery, rather than try to scoreruns. Such players tend to have lowstrike rates, but in many cases highaverages due to their lack of aggressive shots giving bowlers less chances to dismiss them. They are typically less effective inlimited overs cricket where quick scoring is often needed, though some are able to adapt their game to score quicker in the shorter formats of the game.
Block hole
the gap between the bottom of thebat and thebatter's toes. This area is the target for ayorker, as it is difficult toblock unless the batter is expecting it.[24]
a historical tactic involvingfast bowling aimed at thebatter's body with numerous close fielders placed on theleg side. Bodyline was developed in the early 1930s and used by England (who called it "fastleg theory") during the1932–33 Ashes Tour. The tactic was highly controversial, leading to accusations of unsporting behaviour and deliberately attempting to injure or intimidate the batters. Changes to the rules were brought it to outlaw dangerous deliveries and to limit the number of leg-side fielders andbouncers, making bodyline obsolete.[1]
Boot Hill
Another term for short leg, the least liked and most dangerous of the fielding positions. The term is derived from this potential for getting hit by the ball, being a reference to theBoot Hills of theAmerican West, graveyards for those who "died with their boots on". Due to its unpopularity the position has traditionally been taken by the junior professional, although this is no longer necessarily the case. According to former England fielding coachRichard Halsall, a good short leg has to be physically brave, an outstanding catcher, and preferably a good reader of the batter, and are indeed normally batters themselves.[26][27]
3. ashot which reaches (or passes over) the boundary rope. If the ball touches the ground before reaching the boundary, the shot scoresfourruns. If it does not touch the ground before reaching the rope, the shot scoressix runs.[24]
a mode of abatter's dismissal. Occurs when adelivery hits thestumps and removes at least onebail.[29]
Bowled around the legs
outbowled by adelivery which passes thebatter on theleg side before hitting thewicket. The term implies that the batter has moved too far over to theiroff side.
A method for breaking atie which was used in somelimited overs matches in the late 20th and early 21st centuries; most competitions have replaced it with thesuper over. Five players from each team bowled at an undefendedwicket, with the team with the most hits winning.Sudden death was used if the number was equal. The concept was analogous to thepenalty shootout used in other sports.[30]
A statistical summary of abowler's performance. Two formats are common: either the numbers ofovers–maidens–runs conceded–wickets, or the shorter numbers of wickets/runs e.g. 12-2-46-3 or 3/46, pronounced 'three for forty-six'.[24]
The number ofruns conceded by abowler, divided by the number ofwickets they have taken. One of several statistics used to compare the performances of bowlers over extended periods; lower is better.[5]
a protective item shaped like a half-shell and inserted into the front pouch of ajockstrap with cup pocket worn underneath a player's (particularly abatter's) trousers to protect their genitalia from the hard cricket ball. Also known as anabdominal protector,Hector protector,ball box,protector,athletic cup,protective cup orcup.[24]
Brace
twowickets taken off two consecutive deliveries.
Break
a suffix denoting the ball changing direction afterpitching caused by the bowler'sspin orcut. For example, aleg spinner will deliverleg breaks (moving from leg to off).[8]
A ball played off the bat immediately into the ground and then caught by a fielder. Often this has the appearance of being a clean catch directly off the bat.[1]
Poor qualitybowling which is easy to hit, allowing thebatters to help themselves toruns, analogous to a self-servicecafeteria orbuffet. Occasionally employed deliberately asdeclaration bowling.
Call
1. A shouted announcement by afielder while theball is in the air, usually the word "mine", indicating that they are about to attempt acatch. Considered good practice, to avoid two fielders colliding if both attempt to take the same catch.
2. A shouted, normally single word, instruction from abatter to theirpartner, indicating whether to attempt arun. Only one batter makes a call, to avoid confusion that could lead to arun out. Responsibility for making the call is held by whichever batter has the better view of theball and can see whether anyfielders are close to it. This is most often thestriker for ashot in front ofsquare, and thenon-striker for a shot behind square. Common possible calls includeyes,no,wait,push,one,two orthree.
Two examples of cricket caps: the blue cap ofEngland and thebaggy green ofAustralia
The player who has been appointed leader of their team. The captain decides whichbowler will deliver eachover, the placement of thefielders, thebatting order, when to use thedecision review system, whether and when todeclare, and many other aspects of the game. The captain's tactical abilities can have a major impact on the outcome of a match. The captain often has substantial responsibilities between games as well, such as in teamselection or representing the team in the media.
a style of slow bowling delivery in which the ball is released by flicking the ball between the thumb and a bent middle finger in order to impart spin
Carry
1. Ashot has carried if theball is hit in the air and reaches afielder without touching the ground (regardless of whether the fielder then successfully takes acatch). If the ball touches the ground before reaching the fielder, it has not carried.[31] Slow-motion television replays are sometimes required to determine whether the ball carried or bounced a few inches in front of the fielder.
2. The distance which adelivery bounces through to thewicketkeeper if thebatter does not play ashot. The wicketkeeper must position themselves at an appropriate distance behind thestumps for the carry, which depends on the hardness of thepitch, height of thebowler, thelength they are bowling etc.
Anopener batting through an entireinnings, remainingnot out at the conclusion. The rest of the team must beall out (not any otherend of innings scenario). Regarded as an excellent performance by the opening batter.[1]
Cartwheel
The motion of astump when hit by adelivery hard enough that it rips out of the ground and flips end-over-end before landing, like agymnastic cartwheel.[citation needed]
Castled
Cleanbowled usually by ayorker or a full length ball.
Catch
Afielder gaining complete control of theball, in one or both hands, before it touches the ground. Thewicketkeeper may use gloves, but no other fielder may use any other equipment or clothing to assist in taking the catch. A fair catch leads to thebatter beingcaught.
a method ofdismissal in which one of thefielders, including the bowler,catches the ball before it touches the ground after thebatter hits it (with either thebat or aglove that is in contact with the bat).[32] This is the most common method of getting a batterout in professional cricket.
Caught and bowled
Dismissed by acatch taken by thebowler. The term originates from the way such dismissals are recorded on a scorecard (c & b); the alternative "bowled and caught", referring to the sequence of events in the strict chronological order, is almost never used.
Caught behind
Dismissed by acatch taken by thewicket-keeper. Usually from anedge orglove, but sometimes from askier.
1. A score of at least 100runs by a singlebatter; considered a substantial personal achievement.[31]
2. (rare) An ironic term for abowler who has conceded over 100 runs in aninnings.[31]
Chance
An opportunity todismiss abatter that isn't taken by thefielding side. Common examples include ashot thatcarries to afielder who thendrops thecatch; a possiblerun out in which the fielder's throw misses thestumps; or a fumble by awicketkeeper during an attemptedstumping.[33] If a batter does not provide any chances to the opponent, it is referred to as a "chancelessinnings" or "chancelessknock".[34] Some commentators refer to a very difficult opportunity as a "half chance".[35]
Charge
Abatter moving quickly towards to thebowler while thedelivery is inflight, to gain momentum for a powerfulshot (often aslog).[1] A more aggressive version of adance down, with even higher risk, so usually only attempted in thedeath overs.
Check upstairs
Invoke theUmpire Decision Review System, especially by theumpires themselves. Thethird umpire is usually seated high in the stadium, and replays are often displayed on elevated screens, hence the expression.
Cherry
1. Slang term for ared ball, especially in Australia.
2. A red mark left on abat by the impact of ared ball, most commonly anew ball (which has fresh red dye on its surface).
Chest on
(alsofront on orsquare on)
1. A bowler whose chest and hips are aligned towards the batter at the instant ofback foot contact.[1]
2. A batter whose hips and shoulders face towards the bowler at the moment ofrelease.[1]
to bebowled by the ball deflecting off the inside or bottomedge of the bat and onto the stumps while playing a shot
Chuck
of abowler, tothrow the ball by bending the elbow instead ofbowling it with a straight arm; alsochucker: abowler who chucks; andchucking: such an illegal bowling action. All are considered offensive terms as they imply cheating.[1]
Circle
a painted circle (or ellipse), centred in the middle of thepitch, of radius 30-yard (27 m) marked on the field. The circle separates theinfield from theoutfield, used in policing the fielding regulations in certain one-day versions of the game. The exact nature of the restrictions vary depending on the type of game: seelimited overs cricket,Twenty20 andpowerplay (cricket).
Clean bowled
bowled, without theball first hitting thebat orpad.[2]
Club
1. A group of cricketers, from which one or more teams are formed.
2. To strike the ball gracelessly, but with great force. A weaker form ofslog.
Formally organised cricket played by skilled amateurs. Considered a higher standard of play than purely recreationalvillage cricket, but still lower than professional forms of the sport.
The official designation given to the female equivalents to First-class, List A and T20 cricket.[36]
Compulsory close (cc)
When a team's innings is closed and completed by a means other than beingall out ordeclaring. This particularly applies in grade cricket competitions where each innings of a two-innings match is also subject to a time or overs limit. The letters (cc) appear in the team's score to reflect this;e.g. 266–7(cc).[37]
Unusual tactics which are intended to achieve a legitimate outcome, but result in wild statistical abnormalities; for example, deliberately bowling extremely poorly to encourage a quickdeclaration.Wisden excludes records set in contrived circumstances from its official lists.[38]
Cordon
(orslips cordon)
Collective term for multiple fielders in theslips. Sometimes also includesgully.
a goodline. The corridor of uncertainty is a notional narrow area on and just outside a batter'soff stump. If adelivery is in the corridor, it is difficult for a batter to decide whether to leave the ball, or play at it defensively, or play an attacking shot. The term was popularised by former England batter and latterly commentator,Geoffrey Boycott.[1]
the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales.[39]
A wheeledcover being removed from thepitch
Cover
(orthe covers)
1. A fielding position on theoff side,forward ofpoint andsquarer thanmid-off.[39] A cover fielder situated closer to point than usual is known ascover point, whilst one which is closer to mid-off is known asextra cover. The plural term 'the covers' refers to all these variants collectively.
2. A waterproof assembly ortarpaulin used by theground staff to protect parts of the field from rain (usually thepitch,square andrun ups).[39]
the area of the field (roughly) between deepmid-wicket and widelong-on. So called because few 'legitimate' shots are deliberately aimed to this part of the field, so fielders are rarely placed there – leading to the concept that cows could happily graze undisturbed in that area.[1]
Cow shot
a hardshot, usually in the air, across the line of a full-pitched ball, aiming to hit the ball over theboundary atcow corner, with very little regard to proper accepted technique. A type ofslog.[1]
Diagram showing the locations of thecrease lines on thepitch
a straightwhitewash line painted on thepitch near thestumps. At each end of the pitch there are four creases: the 'popping crease', 'bowling crease' and two 'return creases'. The word 'crease' without further qualification refers either to the popping crease or to the region beyond it. The creases are used to adjudge whether arun has been completed, abatter isrun out, thedelivery is ano-ball orwide etc.[2]
a conventionalshot played with thebat parallel with the ground, such as acut or apull. Also known as a horizontal-bat shot, it is generally considered a potentially risky option for batters.[1]
Cross the rope
To cross over the boundary rope. Often said of batters who are beginning or resuming an innings,[41] players entering or exiting the field to begin a session of play,[42] fielders attempting catches,[43] and the ball when the batter scores a boundary
ashot playedsquare on theoff side to ashort-pitcheddelivery wide ofoffstump. So called because thebatter makes a "cutting" motion as they play theshot.[39]
Cutter
abreakdelivery bowled by afast ormedium-pacebowler with similar action to aspin bowler, but at a faster pace. It is usually used in an effort to surprise thebatter, although somemedium-pacebowlers use the cutter as their stock (main)delivery.[8]
Informal term for abatter's individual score that is substantially higher than acentury. Some coaches set a requirement of at least 150runs, but that value is not universal.[44]
Daisy cutter
1. A low-trajectorydelivery in which theball bounces twice, or rolls along the ground, before reaching thebatter.[45] A type ofno ball.
2. Ashot in which theball travels on a low trajectory, bouncing just above the grass.[45][46] This retains more speed than a rolling ball, while being very difficult tocatch.
Dance down (the pitch)
Abatter usingfootwork to move closer to thebowler while thedelivery is inflight, typically with askipping motion, changing the effectivelength. A near-synonym ofcharge, but less aggressive. Considered risky, because if the batter misses theirshot they are likely to bestumped orrun out.
a cricket match scheduled to begin during day time and end after sunset, usingfloodlights. Used in someone day internationals since 1979, andTest matches since 2015.
1. the state of play betweendeliveries, during whichbatters may not scoreruns or be givenout.[1] There are numerous situations where play becomes dead, seedead ball.
2. a signal given by theumpire to indicate a state of dead ball. Used only if the state is not obvious to the players.
A defensiveshot with thebat held in a loosegrip and/or angled towards the ground. If theball strikes the bat it loses momentum and falls quickly to the ground. Used to reduce the chance of beingcaught off anedge.[47][5]
A match played in aseries after one side has gained an unassailable lead, e.g. has already won 3 matches in a 5-match series, or in a tournament if both teams have already qualified (or failed to qualify) for the subsequent rounds. The term is used disparagingly to imply that the match is of lesser importance, but some regard the concept as outdated.[48]
Death bowler
Abowler who specialises in delivering thedeath overs at the end of alimited overs match. Becausebatters usually play very aggressively in this period, a death bowler must be particularly skilled atvariations which are difficult to score from and/or unexpected by the batter, such asyorkers andslower balls.[49]
Death overs
(orslog overs)
The final few overs of aninnings in alimited overs match. Because onlyruns matter in determining theresult, a batting side withwickets in hand will bat very aggressively in this period, seeking to hit everydelivery for aboundary, even if it risks adismissal. Typically the battingstrike rate is highest in this period, and the bowler'seconomy is poorest.[49]
Death rattle
The sound of theball breaking thewicket when abatter isout bowled.[5]
a certificate of loan agreement, used by some professionalclubs to raise funding. Typically, investors loan money to the club for a fixed period in return for guaranteed free (or reduced price) match tickets during that period.
the act of a captain voluntarily bringing their side'sinnings to a close, in the belief that their score is now great enough to prevent defeat. Occurs almost exclusively in timed forms of cricket where a draw is a possible result (such asfirst-class cricket), in order that the side declaring have enough time to bowl the opposition out and therefore win.[1]
Declaration bowling
deliberately poor bowling (specificallyFull tosses andLong hops) from the fielding team with the intention of allowing the batters to score runs quickly and thus encourage the opposing captain to declare, thereby giving both teams a reasonable chance of winning in atimed match which would otherwise have been inevitably drawn. Non-specialist bowlers will often be used in this context, largely to preserve dignity (and the bowling averages) of the specialist bowlers. This may occasionally be seen in domesticfirst-class cricket, where the points systems used often show little penalty between a draw and a loss; but it would very seldom be seen in Test cricket where the consequence of a loss in the context of a series is greater. Cf.Cafeteria bowling.
Deep
(of a fielding position) further away from the batter and closer to the boundary.
Defensive field
A fielding configuration in which fielders are spread around the field so as to more readily stop hit balls and reduce the number of runs (particularlyboundaries) being scored bybatters, at the cost of fewer opportunities to takecatches anddismiss batters.
Delivery
the act of bowling the ball;[8] also, the quality of the way in which a ball is bowled, in either intent or effect.
Devil's number
(ordreaded number)
a score of 87, regarded as unlucky in Australian cricket. Superstition holds thatbatters are more likely to bedismissed for 87, because it is 13 runs short of acentury (seetriskaidekaphobia).
Diamond duck
regional usage varies, but either a dismissal (usually run out) without facing a delivery,[50] or a dismissal (for zero) off the first ball of a team's innings (the less common termplatinum duck is used interchangeably).
Dibbly dobbly
(ordibbly dobbler)
1. amedium pace delivery, neither fast nor slow, with no special variation.
2. abowler who uses this type ofdelivery as theirstock ball.
3. adelivery that is easy to hit, but difficult to score quickly from.[1]
a deliberately gentle shot played by a batter, without attempted power, in order to guide the ball into an unguarded area of the field, largely using the ball's own momentum from thedelivery. Often effective against fast bowlers.
Dinner
the second of the two intervals taken during a full day's play specifically during a day/night test.
Dipper
adelivery bowled which curves into or away from thebatter beforepitching.
Take thewicket of one of thebatters, so they must ceasebatting for the remainder of theinnings. A batter who has been dismissed is referred to asout; if ten members of the batting side are dismissed (orretire), the team areall out. There are ten possible methods, but the vast majority of dismissals are one of five types:caught,bowled,leg before wicket,run out andstumped.
Direct hit
a throw from afieldsman that directly strikes and puts down awicket (without first being caught by a fieldsman standing at thestumps). Occurs when attempting arun out.
acricket pitch which has been intentionally prepared in a specific manner in order to gain a competitive advantage for the home team, such as creating a dry, crumbly surface that particularly favours the home team'sspin bowlers, or a firm, grassy surface which would favour fast bowlers, or any surface which exacerbates perceived weaknesses in the visiting team's batting. Whilst widely considered unsporting, the practice is comparatively common and is (within reason) legal, but the term is always used pejoratively.[51]
Adelivery by afinger spinbowler whichturns in the opposite direction to thestock delivery. The word isHindi/Urdu (Hindustani) for 'second' or 'other'.[1] Some bowlers can perform the requiredbowling action legally, whilst others cannot do so withoutthrowing, which is often ascribed to physiological differences.
normally the scoring of a 1000 runs and the taking of 100 wickets in the same season.
Down the pitch
(alsodown the wicket)
referring to the motion of abatter towards thebowler prior to or during thedelivery, made in the hope of turning agood length ball into ahalf-volley.
Drag
before the current "front foot rule" was introduced, bowlers had to release the ball with the rear foot behind the bowling crease; there were instances of bowlers (especiallyGordon Rorke) managing to "drag" the rear foot forward before release and not being no-balled.
Draw
1. a result in timed matches where the team batting last are not all out, but fail to exceed their opponent's total. Not to be confused with a tie, in which the side batting last is all out or run out of overs with the scores level.
2. an antiquated stroke that has fallen into disuse, it was originally a deliberate shot that resembled theFrench cut – the ball being played between one's own legs.[10]
Draw stumps
Declare the game, or a day's play, over; a reference to withdrawing thestumps from the ground by the umpire.
Drift
the slight lateral curved-path movement that aspinner extracts while the ball is in flight. Considered very good bowling as it increases the difficulty for a batter to correctly judge the precise movement and path of the ball .[1]
Drinks
an agreed short break in play, generally taken in the middle of asession, when refreshments are brought out to the players and umpires by thetwelfth men of each side. Drinks breaks do not always need to take place, but they are usual in test matches, particularly in hot countries.
Drinks waiter
a jocular term for thetwelfth man, referring to his job of bringing outdrinks.
A left-handedbatter plays adrive shot through thecovers
ashot played with astraight bat on thefront foot, aiming anywhere betweenpoint on theoff side andmid-wicket on theleg side. The drive is the most common shot for scoringruns, and often considered the most aesthetically pleasing. Several sub-types are recognised depending on direction, including thesquare drive,cover drive,off drive,straight drive andon drive.
Drop
1. the accidental "dropping" of a ball that was initially caught by a fielder, thus denying the dismissal of the batter; when such an event occurs, the batter is said to have been "dropped".
2. the number ofdismissals which occur in a team'sinnings before a givenbatter goesin to bat; a batter batting at 'first drop' is batting at number three in thebatting order, going in after one wicket has fallen.
3. the act of excluding a player fromselection in a squad even when they were included in the most recent prior selection.
Dropper
Obsolete term for adelivery bylob bowling, or abowler who employed this style. Common in the 19th century, this form of bowling is now usually illegal.
a temporarypitch that is cultivated off-site from the field which also allows other sports to share the use of the field with less chance of injury to the players.
a batter's score of nought (zero)dismissed, as in "he was out for a duck." It can refer to a score of noughtnot out during an innings, as in "she hasn't got off her duck yet", but never refers to a completed innings score of noughtnot out. Originally called a "duck's egg" because of the "0" shape in the scorebook.[1][3] ( seeGolden,Diamond, andPlatinum duck )
Duck under delivery
a short pitched delivery that appears to be a bouncer, making the striker duck to avoid from being hit; but instead of bouncing high, it has a low bounce which causes the batter to be dismissed LBW, or occasionally bowled.
arain rule used if alimited overs match is curtailed by bad weather. If the match cannot be completed, the Duckworth-Lewis method determines the winner, or if the match can be continued but needs to be shortened, it calculates a revisedtarget for the team batting second. The mathematical formula is based on analysis of past completed matches. Used in all international matches since 1999, and in most domestic leagues.[1]
Dugout
term taken fromassociation football, a sheltered place just outside the boundary ropes where a team's non-active players and staff sit. Dugouts are a common feature of Twenty20 matches, butpavilions are usually used for any longer forms of the game.
The average number ofruns conceded perover delivered by an individualbowler. Lower values are better.[1]
Edge (or snick or nick)
A slight deviation of the ball off the edge of thebat. Top, bottom, inside and outside edges denote the four edges of thebat. The notional four edges are due to the bat being either vertical (inside/outside edge), or horizontal (top/bottom edge). See alsoleading edge.[52]
Eleven
another name for one cricket team, which is made of eleven players.[52]
End
An area of the ground directly behind one of thestumps, used to designate what end a bowler is bowling from (e.g. the pavilion end).[52] The bowlers take turns delivering alternating overs from the two ends of the pitch.
The conclusion of a batting side'sinnings. Mostly commonly, this occurs when they areall out or (in alimited overs match) when the allocated number ofovers have been bowled. Other situations where the innings ends are: the side batting last reaches thetarget, thereby winning thematch; thecaptain of the batting sidedeclares; the allocated time expires (in atimed match), so the result is adraw; or if the officials declare aforfeit.
Expensive
a bowler who concedes a large number of runs from theirover(s), i.e. has a higheconomy rate.[52] The opposite ofeconomical.
Arun awarded to thebatting team that is not credited to a specificbatter. These are recorded separately on thescorecard. There are five types:byes,leg byes,wides,no-balls andpenalties. Wides and no-balls are also recorded as runs conceded in thebowling analysis, the others are not attributed to the bowler.[1]
a verb used to indicate thedismissal of a batter,e.g "The fourth wicket fell for the addition of only three runs".
Fall of wicket
the batting team's score at which abatter getsout. Often abbreviated to "FOW" in scorecards.[52]
Farm the strike (alsoshepherd the strike orfarm the bowling)
of a batter, contrive to receive the majority of the balls bowled,[52] usually because they are the more skilled of the two batters in facing the bowling style of the bowler. This usually results in the batter contriving to make an even number of runs (for example, by waiting until certain of hitting a 4 or 6, or by running only 2 when they could have run 3) so that they will again face the bowler. For the same reason, they will try to score a single from the last ball of the over, whereas their weaker partner would not attempt to score from it.
1. (noun) a large grassturf area on which the sport is played, forming part of the widerground. Typicallyoval, but a wide variety of other shapes are permitted provided they are at least 130 yards (120 m) in diameter. At (or near) the centre of the field is thepitch, and the edge of the field is theboundary, marked by aboundary rope.
Recovering theball after eachdelivery. One of the three major skills of cricket (the others beingbatting andbowling), all members of the team take part in the fielding. If thebatter has hit the ball in the air, thefielders can attempt acatch, todismiss the batter. Otherwise they attempt to prevent the ball crossing theboundary, bring it under control, then return it to the vicinity of thestumps. This is done as quickly as possible, to either stop the batters from scoringruns or to effect arun out.
Fill-up game
when a match finished early a further game was sometimes started to fill in the available time and to entertain the paying spectators.
Find the gap(s)
to play a shot or series of shots along the ground, in the gaps between fielders. The least risky way of scoring runs quickly, but it requires good technique to be able to do consistently. The opposite,finding the man [at some fielding position], is often used when the ball is hit straight to a fielder through the air and is caught.
Fine
of a position on the field behind the batter, closer to the line of thepitch (wicket-to-wicket); the opposite ofsquare.[52]
a form ofspin bowling in which theball is made rotate by the action of thebowler's fingers (contrast withwrist spin). For a right-handed bowler this producesoff spin, whereas the same technique by a left-handed bowler producesleft arm orthodox spin.
the senior form of the game; usually county, state or international. First-class matches consist of twoinnings per side and are usually played over three or more days.[10]
First change
the third bowler used in an innings. As the first bowler to replace either of the opening pair this bowler is thefirst change that the captain makes to the attack.
the best team of (eleven) players at aclub, who will be chosen by theselector for the most important or high-profile games. Other players are used if members of the first eleven are unavailable or in less important fixtures. Some large clubs have enough players to operate a hierarchy of teams, in which case the others are known as the second eleven, third eleven etc.
First innings points
In two-innings competitions with a league table to determine standings, in addition to points awarded for winning or tieing a match, a team is also awarded points for taking a first innings lead,i.e. scoring more than their opponents in the first innings.
Fishing
being tempted into throwing the bat at a wider delivery outside off-stump and missing, reaching for a wide delivery and missing. See alsowaft.
Five-wicket haul (alsofive-for,five-fer,fifer, shortened to5WI orFWI, or colloquially aMichelle, in honour of the actressMichelle Pfeiffer.)
five or morewickets taken by abowler in aninnings, considered a very good performance. The termfive-for is an abbreviation of the usual form of writing bowling statistics, e.g., a bowler who takes 5 wickets and concedes 117 runs is said to have figures of "5 for 117" or "5–117". A five-wicket haul is traditionally regarded as a special moment for a bowler, just like a century for a batter.
Flamingo shot
A type of shot whereby a batter flicks deliveries from outside off-stump through mid-wicket. It is done when the opposition plays a heavy off-side field and then bowl outside off. This shot was originally invented by Kevin Pietersen. It is also played byJames Taylor and by New Zealand tailenderTrent Boult
Flash
to wield the bat aggressively, often hitting good line and length deliveries indiscriminately.
Flat pitch
apitch which is advantageous to thebatters and offers little or no help to the bowlers, due to predictable bounce. Also known as a "flat deck"[54]
Flat hit
an aerial shot hit with significant power by the batter which travels fast enough to make the ballistic trajectory of the ball appear flat
Flat throw
a ball thrown by the fielder which is almost parallel to the ground. Considered to be a hallmark of good fielding if the throw is also accurate because flat throws travel at a fast pace.
Flat-track bully
abatter high in thebatting order who is very good only when thepitch is not giving thebowlers much help. 'Track' is Australian slang for the pitch. When the 'track' is said to be 'flat' it is at its easiest for the batter, but these are the only conditions under which some players can dominate. When conditions are tough, or when it really counts – they do not.
Flick
a gentle movement of the wrist to move the bat, often associated with shots on theleg side.
a team which bats first in the second innings, after having batted second in the first innings, is said to have followed on. The captain of the team batting first in the first innings may direct the team batting second to follow on if it leads by a certain margin after the first innings; this margin is currently 200 runs in a five-day game, and 150 runs in a three- or four-day game.[8]
a bowler's body actions after the release of the ball to stabilise their body.[8]
Footmarks
On a grass pitch, the bowler creates a rough patch where they lands their foot and follow through after delivering the ball. The rough patch can become cratered and becomes more abrasive as the match continues and more players step on it. The abrasive surface means that the ball will increasingly grip more if it lands in the footmarks. Bowlers, particularly spinners, will aim the ball there as it will turn more sharply, and is more likely to get irregular bounce from such areas, making it more difficult for the opposition batters.
the necessary feet movements that a batter has to take so as to be at a comfortable distance from where the ball has pitched, just right to hit the ball anywhere they desire, negating any spin or swing that a bowler attempts to extract after bouncing.
Form
The quality of a player's recent performances. A player who is 'in form' has played well in recent games, so is likely to do so again. Those that are 'out of form' have struggled recently. A run of poor form may result in the player beingdropped from the team.[55]
Forty-Five (on the one)
An uncommon fielding position akin to a short third-man, roughly halfway between the pitch and the boundary. Also used for a short backward square leg (at 45° behind square defending a single).
A common defensive shot, played with thebatter's weight on thefront foot and astraight bat held stationary close to thepad. The bat is angled downwards to deflect theball into the ground in front of the batter, preventing acatch. Considered a safe way of defending against adelivery which threatens to hit thestumps, but is unlikely to score anyruns.
ashot that reaches theboundary after touching the ground, which scores fourruns to the batting side.
Four wickets (also 4WI)
Alsofour-for four or more wickets taken by a bowler in an innings, considered a good performance. Mostly used inOne Day Internationals and it is a rarer feat inT20 Cricket.
Fourth stump
a position or line one stump's width outside theoff stump,i.e. where the wicket's fourth stump would be positioned if it existed. Generally refers to theline orpitch of a delivery. A fourth stump line is roughly synonymous with thecorridor of uncertainty.[56]
a penalty given in some forms of cricket when a bowler bowls a 'no-ball'. The bowler must bowl another delivery, and the batter cannot be dismissed by the bowler from that delivery. Between the no-ball and the free hit, the fielders may not change positions (unless the batters changed ends on the no-ball).
an informal form of the game, typically played by children. The term "playing French Cricket" can imply that a batter has not attempted to move their feet and looks ungainly because of this.
French Cut (also referred to as aChinese Cut,Surrey Cut, orHarrow Drive)
term for an unintentionally poorly executed shot which results in an insideedge where the ball narrowly misses hitting thestumps.[31]
Such unintentional shots can frequently fool the wicket keeper and may often fortuitously result inruns.
Fritz
To be out stumped following a rebound from the wicketkeeper's pads on to the stumps.[citation needed]
Front foot
all opposites ofback foot
1. (of abatter) in the battingstance, the foot that is closest to thebowler and furthest from thestumps.
2. (of ashot) played with thebatter's weight primarily on that foot.
3. (of abowler) during the bowlingaction, the last foot to contact the ground before theball isreleased.
during thebowling action, the position of thebowler when theirfront foot lands on the ground.
Fruit Salad
when a bowler delivers a different type of delivery each time, rather than bowling a constant speed, length and angle. Fruit salad bowling is used most commonly in Twenty20 to prevent batters from getting comfortable.
(Full) face of the bat
references the front, or flat side, of the bat, particularly where themanufacturer's insignia is written. A batter is said to have given a bowler or a delivery faced thefull face of the bat if they havemiddled the ball and driven it straight down the wicket, such that the bowler clearly sees the manufacturer's insignia.
Full length
adelivery that pitches closer to thebatter than a ball pitching on agood length, but further away than ahalf-volley.
Full pint
when a stump is knocked completely out of the ground by a delivery.
adelivery that reaches thebatter on the full, i.e. without bouncing. Usually considered a baddelivery to bowl as thebatter has a lot of time to see the ball and play an attackingshot. Also, it does not have a chance to change direction off the ground, making it the ultimate crime for aspin orseam bowler.[1][3]
abatter prodding at thepitch with theirbat betweendeliveries, ostensibly to flatten a bump in thepitch. May be used to inspect features of a deteriorating pitch (e.g.footmarks), or to calm the batter's nerves. Sometimes considered to betime-wasting.[1][3]
a consistently poorbatter, rightfully relegated to the bottom of thebatting order.[citation needed]
Getting one's eye in
abatter playing low-risk defensiveshots when firstin, while they assess the conditions andbowlers, before attempting riskier scoring shots.
Give (it) the treatment
of a batter, to hit a poorly bowled ball well, often for a boundary.[57]
Given man
a skilled player given by the stronger team in amatch to the weaker team, with the intention of producing teams with approximately equal strength. This was historically used as a form ofhandicapping, particularly inGentlemen v Players matches, to balance theodds for gambling. The practice is now banned at professional level to preventmatch fixing, but is occasionally seen invillage cricket.[58]
Glance
ashot that goesfine on theleg side. Typically played byflicking aball which is heading for thebatter's hips or thigh.[10]
1. (noun)Batting gloves, hand protection worn by abatter as part of theirkit. Padding is mostly on the outside, to defend against impacts by theball while gripping thehandle of the bat.
2. (noun)Wicket-keeper's gloves, webbed catching gloves worn by awicket-keeper. The padding is on the inside, to absorb the impact of a caught ball. No other member of thefielding team is allowed to use gloves.
3. (verb) Touch the ball with a batting glove while the glove is in contact with thebat. In that circumstance, the rules consider the glove to be part of the bat, so thebatter can scoreruns or becaught if they glove the ball.
Glovemanship (also glovework)
the skills ofwicketkeeping, used when either praising or criticising a performance
Golden duck
a dismissal for nought (zero), from the firstball faced in a batter's innings. ( cfDuck,Diamond duck,Platinum duck )
Golden pair (alsoKing pair)
a dismissal for nought (zero)runs off the firstball faced in each of a batter's twoinnings of a two-innings match (see this list ofPairs in test and first-class cricket).
Good length
the ideal place for a stockdelivery to pitch in its trajectory from thebowler to thebatter. It makes thebatter uncertain whether to play afront-foot orback-footshot. A good length differs frombowler tobowler, based on the type, height and speed of thebowler. The "good length" is not necessarily the best length to bowl, as a bowler may wish to bowlshort orfull to exploit a batter's weaknesses.[1]
a deceptive spinningdelivery by awrist spinbowler which spins the opposite direction to the stock delivery. For a right-handerbowler and a right-handedbatter, a googly will turn from the off side to the leg side. Developed byBosanquet around 1900.[1][3]
Gouging
causing intentional damage to thepitch orball.
Gozza
term in Australian cricket meaning a batter who is out on the first ball they receive. See alsoGolden duck.[citation needed]
Grafting
batting defensively with strong emphasis on not getting out, often under difficult conditions.
Grass
todrop acatch, letting theball fall onto the grass of thefield.[5]
Green top
apitch with an unusually high amount of visible grass, that might be expected to assist the pace bowlers in particular.
Grip
the rubber casings used on the handle of thebat; alternatively, how the bowlerholds the ball and how the batter holds the bat.
1. (noun) A collective term for thepitch,field,pavilion and any associated amenities, such as seating for spectators. Large grounds with substantial spectator facilities may be referred to asstadiums.
2. (verb) Turn and touch the bat onto the ground surface behind thepopping crease after the batter has left thecrease in the action of taking a shot or starting a run; to run the bat in the process of completing a run in order to besafe.
3. (noun) The batter'ssafe area on thepitch. The batter is 'in their ground' when a part of the body (usually the foot) or the bat is touching the surface behind thepopping crease. They have 'left their ground' if they have advanced down the pitch in the action of taking a shot or starting a run. The batter has 'made their ground' if able toground their bat or touch the surface behind thepopping crease with a part of the body before a fielder can break thewicket for arun out.
Groundsman (orcurator)
a person responsible for maintaining the cricket field and preparing thepitch.[8]
thebatter aligning theirbat according with astump (or betweenstumps) chosen behind them. Typically, the batter marks the position of the bat on the pitch. The marking(s) give the batter an idea as to where they are standing in relation to thestumps.[8]
a batter of generally low skill with an excessively aggressive approach to batting, commonly with a preference towards lofted cross bat shots. A poor defensive stance and lack of defensive strokes are also features of a hack. Can also be used for one particular stroke
Half century
an individual score of 50 runs or more, but less than 100 (century). Reasonably significant landmark for abatter and more so for thelower order and thetail-enders.
Half-tracker
another term for along hop. So called because the ball roughly bounces halfway down the pitch.
Half-volley
adelivery that bounces just short of the batter so that they can easily strike the ball with an attacking front foot shot such as adrive orglance.[1]
occurs when abatter touches the ball with their hands (when they are not gripping the bat) while the ball is stilllive. No longer a method of dismissal in its own right, but can result in the batter being givenout.
abowler taking awicket off each of three consecutivedeliveries that they bowl in a single match (whether in the sameover or split up in two consecutiveovers, or twoovers in two differentspells, or even spread across twoinnings of atest match orfirst-class cricket game).
Hat-trick ball
a delivery bowled after taking two wickets with the previous two deliveries. The captain will usually set a very attacking field for a hat-trick ball, to maximise the chances of the bowler taking a hat-trick. The bowler is said to beon a hat-trick before they deliver the hat-trick ball.
a batting shot played by flicking the ball through the air on the leg side, often to avoid close fielders and attempt to hit a boundary. Well-timed helicopter shots off of fast deliveries can often result in six runs, sometimes toward thecow corner. Helicopter shots are differentiated from slogs and hoicks in that they are somewhat more refined in that they require timing to come off.
Protective headgear worn bybatters facingpace bowling orfielders located very close to the batter. Cricket helmets consist of a hard padded hemisphere protecting thebrain case, a frontbrim, and a large metal grill over the face and jaw, with gaps smaller than the diameter of theball.
High score
the most runs scored by the batter in a single innings. see alsoBest bowling
Hip Clip
a trademark shot of Brian Lara involving a flick of the wrist to whip a ball, at hip height, at right angles past the fielder at square leg.[citation needed]
A batter is out 'hit the ball twice' if having struck the ball once with their person or bat, they strike the ball a second time with their person or bat (but not a handnot holding the bat). A batter is not out if the second strike was for the sole purpose of guarding their wicket.[59] A batter may not strike the ball a second time to prevent it from being caught (out 'obstructing the field).[60]
abatter getting out by dislodging thebails of thewicket behind them either with theirbat or body as they try to play the ball or set off for a run.[2]
Hoick
an unrefinedshot played to theleg side usually across the line of the ball.
Hold up an end
A batter who is intentionally restricting their scoring and concentrating on defence while their batting partner scores runs at the other end; or, a bowler who is bowling defensively to restrict runs at their end while their bowling partner tries to take wickets at the other end.
Hole out
To be dismissed by being caught, usually referring to a catch from a lofted shot (or attempt thereof) in the outfield or forward from the wicket, rather than being caught behind by the wicketkeeper, in the slips cordon, or a leg trap fielder from edges or gloved balls.
Hoodoo
a bowler is said to 'have the hoodoo' on a batter when they have got them out many times in their career. (Seerabbit II.)
a technology used in television coverage to evaluate snicks and bat-pad catches. The batter is filmed with an infrared camera, and friction caused by the strike of the ball shows up as a white "hot spot" on the picture.
2. 100-ball cricket, alimited overs format with modified rules, such as each team batting for up to 100 legal balls, to speed up the game for television broadcasters.
3. The Hundred, a domestic competition in England that uses the 100-ball format, introduced in 2021.
Hutch
the pavilion or dressing room. Non-specialist batters or tail enders can be known as 'rabbits', so when they are given out they return to the hutch.
The in/out field is the group of fielders close to the batter or closer to the boundary respectively.
An in/out field is afield setting, usually with 5 close fielders and 3 on the boundary, designed to force batters into errors by trying to deny the opportunity to score singles while saving easy boundaries.
Incoming batter
the batter next to come inin the listed batting order. The incoming batter is the one who is out when a "timed out" occurs.
adelivery that curves into thebatter in the air from off to leg.[10]
In-cutter
adelivery that moves into thebatter after hitting the surface.
Infield
the region of the field that lies inside the30-yard circle (27 m) or, in the days before defined circles, the area of the field close to the wicket bounded by an imaginary line through square leg, mid on, mid off and cover point.[10]
1. For a wicketkeeper to field.2. "Keep wickets in hand", which is when a batting team tries to have relatively few of its batters get out.[62] Usually done so that more run-scoring risks can be taken near the end of their innings in a limited-overs match, since they will have many batters left and only a few balls left.
The Indian version of thehoik. Comes from the English 'lap', an old term for a stroke somewhere between a pull and a sweep.[10]
Lap sweep
Also known as a paddle sweep or run sweep, a sweep shot tickled down to fine leg.
Laws
Thelaws of cricket are a set of rules established by theMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and apply to cricket worldwide. Cricket is one of the few sports for which the governing principles are referred to as 'Laws' rather than as 'Rules' or 'Regulations'. Note that regulations to supplement and/or vary the laws may be agreed for particular competitions.
The ball hitting the front edge of thebat as opposed to its face, when playing astraight-bat shot. Often results in an easycatch for thebowler or askier for someone else.[1]
Leave
The action of the batter not attempting to play at the ball. They may do this by holding the bat above their body. However, there is a clause in theLBW rules making them more susceptible to getting out this way. A batter leaving the ball may also not claim anyleg byes.
Left arm
A bowler who bowls the ball with their left hand is, by convention, called a 'left-arm' or 'left arm' bowler (rather than 'left hand' or 'left-handed'). (Contrast "left hand batter".)[63]
the style ofspin bowling produced byleft-armwrist spin; the left-arm equivalent ofleg spin. Formerly calledChinaman bowling, afterEllis Achong, a West Indian of Chinese descent, but that term is now considered derogatory.[64]
Left hand
A batter who bats left-handed is said to be a 'left-hand' bat. (Contrast "left arm bowler".)[63]
a way ofdismissing thebatter. In brief, the batter is out if, in the opinion of theumpire, the ball hits any part of the batter's body (usually the leg) before hitting or missing the bat and would have gone on to hit thestumps.[1][2]
Extras taken after adelivery hits any part of the body of thebatter other than thebat or the gloved hand that holds thebat. If the batter makes no attempt to play the ball with the bat or evade the ball that hits them, leg byes may not be scored.[1]
Abreakdelivery bowled by afast ormedium-pacebowler with similar action to aspin bowler, but at a faster pace. The ball breaks from theleg side to theoff side of thebatter.[1]
A delicate shot played at a ball aimed slightly on theleg side, using the bat to flick the ball as it passes the batter, deflecting towards thesquare leg orfine leg area.
the style ofspin bowling produced by right-handedwrist spin. So called because thestock delivery is aleg break. Commonvariations include thegoogly,top spinner, andflipper.
A tactic sometimes used by the fielding side. Thebowler aims for aline onleg stump and morefielders than usual are placed on theleg side, particularly short catching positions. This prevents thebatter from playingshots on theoff side. The goal is to slow the scoring and frustrate the batter into an opportunity for acatch. See alsofast leg theory andBodyline.[1] The opposite ofoff theory.
Leggie
1. aleg spin bowler
2. aleg break delivery
Cricketlengths
Length
the place along thepitch where adelivery bounces (seeshort pitched,good length,half-volley,full toss).[1]
Life
a batter being reprieved because of a mistake by the fielding team, through dropping a catch, missing a run-out chance or the wicket-keeper missing a stumping.
Light
seebad light
Limited overs match
a one-innings match where each side may only face a set number of overs. Another name forone-day cricket.
Line (also see Line and length)
the deviation of the point along thepitch where adelivery bounces from the line fromwicket-to-wicket (to theleg side or theoff side).[1]
An obsolete form ofunderarm bowling, in which theball waslobbed high in the air, falling back to thepitch on a steep trajectory. A commonvariation aimed to drop the ball directly onto thestumps, without bouncing. Lob bowling was popular in the 19th century but is now illegal.
Loft(ed shot)
a type of shot where the ball is hit in the air[65][66]
Lolly
a ball that a batter is easily able to hit, or a ball that a fielder is easily able to catch
adelivery that is much too short to be agood lengthdelivery, but without the sharp lift of abouncer. Usually considered a baddelivery to bowl as thebatter has a lot of time to see the ball and play an attackingshot.[1]
Long off
a fielding position close the boundary on the off side, located in front of, and relatively close to, the line of the wicket.
Long on
a fielding position close the boundary on the leg side, located in front of, and relatively close to, the line of the wicket.
Long stop
orvery fine leg
a fielding position on the boundary directly behind thewicket-keeper, to recover anybyes orwides that evade the keeper. Occasionally seen atvillage cricket level but obsolete in professional cricket.
Look for two
running asingle with urgency, the batters convey the sense (to each other, to the crowd, to commentators) that they will attempt a second run, though no commitment is expected until after theturn. Seepush,two.
Loop
the curved path of the ball bowled by aspinner.[1]
Loosener
a poordelivery bowled at the start of abowler's spell.
Aball which cannot be retrieved, due to being lost or otherwise out of reach (e.g. hit into a river or over a fence). Theumpire callsdead ball to stop play, and thebatter is credited with any runs completed (generally aboundary) or in progress at the time dead ball is called. A replacement ball is selected, preferably a used one in similar condition to the lost ball.
Lower order (colloquiallythe tail)
thebatters who bat at between roughly number 8 and 11 in thebatting order and who may have some skill at batting, but are generally either specialistbowlers orwicket-keepers with limited batting ability. Such batters are known as lower order batters or tail-enders.
anover in which noruns are scored off the bat, and nowides orno-balls are bowled. Considered a good performance for abowler, maiden overs are tracked as part of abowling analysis.[1][3]
Maker's name
the full face of the bat, where the manufacturer's logo is normally located. Used particularly when referring to a batter's technique when playing a straightdrive, so that the opposing bowler has full view of the batter's bat label (e.g., "Sachin Tendulkar played a beautiful on-drive for four, giving it plenty of maker's name...").[1]
an award which may be given to the player whose individual performance was considered the most outstanding, or had the greatest impact on the outcome of the game. Usually (but not always) the highest scoring batter or best performing bowler.Man of the series is the same over a whole series.
Manhattan
also called theSkyline. It is abar graph of the runs scored off each over in a one-day game, with dots indicating the overs in which wickets fell. The name is alternatively applied to a bar graph showing the number of runs scored in each innings in a batter's career. So called because the bars supposedly resemble the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline ofManhattan.[1]
the running-out by the bowler of a non-striking batter who leaves their crease before the bowler has released the ball. It is named afterVinoo Mankad, an Indian bowler, who controversially used this method in a Test match. This is relatively common in indoor cricket and is noted separately from run outs, though almost unheard of in first-class cricket.[1]
Illegally arranging the outcome of amatch in advance, such as playing deliberately poorly to ensure a loss. Most commonly fixing is due to bribes or collusion withgamblers who bet on the result, seebetting controversies in cricket. Fixing outcomes other than the final result is known asspot fixing. This is not only against the rules of cricket, but often against the law of the country where it is played; some cricketers have gone to jail for their involvement in match fixing scandals.
Match referee
an official whose role is to ensure that the spirit of the game is upheld. They have the power to fine players and/or teams for unethical play.
Maximum
seesix.
Meat of the bat
the thickest part of the bat, from which the most energy is imparted to the ball.
Mecca of cricket
this usually refers to theLord's cricket ground, also known as the Home of Cricket.
abowler who bowls slower than apace bowler, but faster than aspin bowler. Speed is important to the medium-pacer, but they try and defeat thebatter with the movement of the ball, rather than the pace at which it is bowled. Medium-pacers either bowlcutters or rely on the ball toswing in the air. They usually bowl at about 55–70 mph (90–110 km/h).
Michelle
Seefive-wicket haul.
Middle of the bat
the area of the face of the bat that imparts maximum power to a shot if that part of the bat hits the ball. Also known as the "meat" of the bat. Effectively the same as thesweet spot; however, a shot that has been "middled" usually means one that is hit with great power as well astiming.[1]
Middle order
thebatters who bat at between roughly number 5 and 7 in thebatting order. Often includesall-rounders and thewicket-keeper.
Mid-off
a fielding position intended to save a run on the off side, located in front of, and relatively close to, the line of the wicket.
Mid-on
a fielding position intended to save a run on the leg side, located in front of, and relatively close to, the line of the wicket.
Mid-wicket
a fielding position intended to save a run on the leg side, located between mid-on and square leg.
Military medium
medium-pace bowling that lacks the speed to trouble thebatter. Often has derogatory overtones, suggesting the bowling is boring, innocuous, or lacking in variety, but can also be a term of praise, suggesting a military regularity and lack of unintended variation. A good military mediumbowler will pitch the ball on the same perfectline and length for six balls anover, making it very hard for thebatter to score runs.[1]
Milking (or milk the bowling)
Scoring a steady stream of easyruns at a moderate rate with little risk of gettingout, by taking advantage of poorbowling or gaps in thefield. Particularly common againstspin bowling inlimited overs matches, due to thecircle restrictions.[67]
a shot where the batsman plays the ball between their own legs into the legside. Derived fromNat Sciver-Brunt who popularized this shot and nutmeg, a popular move in football defending against an opponent.
Negative bowling
a persistentline of bowling down theleg-side of abatter to stymie thebatter from scoring (particularly inTest matches).
A score of 111, either for a team or for an individualbatter.Superstition holds that this score is unlucky and more likely to lead to adismissal, due to its resemblance to the threestumps of thewicket (as if thebails had been removed). Tradition holds that the bad luck may be averted if spectators stand on one leg. Scores of 222 and 333 are known as double Nelson and triple Nelson respectively; these are sometimes also considered unlucky.[1][7]
The period of abatter'sinnings when their score is between 90 and 99. Many players bat nervously in this period because they are worried about gettingout before they reach acentury. The fielding captain often sets anattacking field to increase the psychological pressure. Some players are particularly prone to getting out in the nervous nineties.[1]
In a match, the average run rate scored by a team minus the average run rate scored against them. In a series, a team's NRR is (total runs scored) / (total overs received) – (total runs conceded) / (total overs bowled).[1]
In professional cricket, a newball is used at the beginning of eachinnings. Intimed matches, the fieldingcaptain has the option of taking another new ball after 80overs have passed.[69] A new ball is generally harder and shinier than an old ball, moves faster through the air (favouringpace bowling) and mayswing after a few overs of polishing. In contrast, an old ball will be softer, rougher, and will typically have been polished on one side but not the other, favouringreverse swing andspin bowling.
Nibble
A small amount of movement by the ball off theseam.[70]
(in afirst-class game) a lower orderbatter sent in when the light is dimming to play out the remaining overs of the day in order to protect more valuable batters for the next day's play.
Nipbacker
Adelivery thatpitches outside the line ofoff stump then deviates off theseam, moving towards thebatter.[5] Similar to anoff cutter but usingseam bowling. Usually bowled on agood length or slightly shorter.
No
batter's call not to run. SeePush,Yes,Two,Wait.[1]
an illegaldelivery; the batting side is awarded oneextra, thebowler must deliver another ball in theover, and thebatter cannot be dismissed by the bowler on a no-ball. Most usually a front-foot no-ball, in which the bowler oversteps thepopping crease; other reasons include bowling a full toss above waist height (seebeamer),throwing, having more than two fielders (excluding the wicketkeeper) behind square on the leg side, or breaking the return crease in the delivery stride.[2]
No man's land
an area of the field where a fielder cannot save a single, nor stop a boundary. Occasionally used to catch a batter who mistimes a shot.
the outcome of alimited overs match in which each team does not face the minimum number ofovers required for a result to be recorded, usually due to arain delay. This is generally equivalent to adraw, but differs in the recording of some statistics.
An overly tentativeshot by thebatter: neither a committed attempt to hit theball, nor a deliberateleave. This often results in anedge,beating the bat, orplaying on.[71]
An extremely rare method ofdismissal. Thebatter is givenout if they wilfully interfere with thefielding, such as blocking arun out or preventing a fielder from taking acatch. Since 2017 obstructing the field includes the offence ofhandled the ball, which was previously considered a separate method of dismissal.
Occupying the crease
The act of a batter stayingin for a long time, without trying to score manyruns. This tires thebowler and may frustrate thefielding side in atimed match, but requires skilled defensive batting technique. It is particularly prized amongopening batters or whenbatting for a draw.
a match in which one side has more players than the other. Generally, the extra players were allowed to field as well as bat and so the bowling side had more than 11 fielders.
the half of thepitch in front of thebatter's body as they take strike. For a right-handed batter this is the right half of the pitch, looking up the wicket towards the bowler, and the left half for the left-handed batter. The opposite ofleg side.[1]
the style ofspin bowling produced by right-armfinger spin. So called because thestock delivery is anoff break. Common variations include thearm ball anddoosra.[1]
Off the mark
when the first run is scored by a batter, it is said that the batter is off the mark. If a batter gets out without scoring, it is said that the batter failed to get off the mark.[72]
A tactic sometimes used by the fielding side. Thebowler aims for aline wide ofoff stump and mostfielders are placed on theoff side. This prevents thebatter from playingshots on theleg side, whilst most of the off side is covered by fielders. The goal is to slow the scoring and frustrate the batters into an opportunity for acatch. The opposite ofleg theory.
Offer the light
Under historical rules, offering the light was the act of the umpires giving the batters the choice of whether or not to leave the field during times ofbad light. Offering the light has disappeared from the game since 2010, the decision of whether or not to leave the field for bad light is made solely by the umpires.[16]
the batter currently facing the bowling attack is said to beon strike.
On the [shot name]
used to describe the type of shot that fielders are placed in order to intercept. For example, "three men on the hook" means three fielders who are placed behind square leg to catch the ball if the hook shot is used.[73] "On the drive" is a similar term used for any type of drive, so generally within a straight 'V' in front of the batter.[74]
On the up
a batter playing a shot, usually adrive, to a ball that is quite short and has already risen to knee height or more as the shot is played.
a match between two national sides limited to 50 overs per innings, played over at most one day.
One down
a batter who bats at No. 3 i.e. when the team is "down by one wicket", a crucial position in the team's batting innings.
One short
when abatter fails to make contact with the ground beyond the popping crease, and turns back for an additionalrun.
Opener
1. anopening batter
2. anopening bowler
Opening batter
One of the twobatters who arein at the start of theinnings. They must face theopening bowlers andnew ball, so require good defensive technique to avoid gettingout, especially in atimed match. In alimited overs match an opening batter must also score quickly during thepower play.
Opening bowler
One of the twobowlers who begin theinnings using thenew ball. They are usually the fastest or most aggressivebowlers in the side.[75]
Opposite number
A player on the other team who plays the same role. Often used for captains and wicket keepers.[76]
Orthodox
1. shots played in the accepted "textbook" manner, and batters who play in this manner.
2. the word sometimes spoken while raising the index finger by the umpire when answering an appeal for a wicket in the affirmative.
Outdipper
adipper that curves away from thebatter before pitching.
Outright win/loss
a win or loss in a completed match of two innings per team. Used in competitions which awardfirst innings points, as a term to distinguish a one-innings win from a two-innings win.
the part of the field lying outside the 30-yard (27 m)circle measured from the centre of thepitch or, less formally, the part of the pitch furthest from the wickets.[10]
a right-armbowler passing to the left of the non-striker's stumps in their run-up, and vice versa for a left-armbowler. Compare witharound the wicket.[10]
the action of bowling with the arm swinging from behind the body over the head, releasing the ball on the down swing without bending the elbow. This type of bowling is the only type normally allowed in all official cricket matches. Compare withunderarm.
Overpitched delivery
a delivery that is full pitched but not a yorker, bouncing just in front of the batter. Considered a poor delivery, as it easy for the batter to get themiddle of the bat to the ball. An overpitched ball is often ahalf-volley.[10]
the scoring of extraruns due to an errant throw from a fielder. Also known asbuzzers. Occasionally used erroneously for any runs scored after a fielder misfields the ball. Also refers to the throw itself as the ball goes far past or "over" the intended target.[10]
a style of bowling in which the ball isdelivered at high speeds, typically over 90 mph (145 km/h). A pace bowler (or paceman) often will also useswing.
Pads used by awicket keeper (left) and abatter (right)
protective equipment forbatters andwicket-keepers, covering the legs.[3]
Pad away or pad-play
to intentionally use the pads deflect the ball away from the wicket. Using the pad instead of the bat removes the danger of being caught by close fielders, but would only be used when there is no risk of being dismissedLBW (for example, if the ball pitched on the leg side).[10]
(also known as ascoop shot,ramp shot,Dilscoop orMarillier shot)
Ashot in which thebatter drops on one knee and scoops the ball over their shoulder or head, using thebat as ramp to redirect the momentum of theball. Considered unorthodox and risky, but can result in aboundary behind thewicketkeeper or in thefine leg region.[1]
Pair
a "pair of spectacles" (0–0) or a "pair of ducks". A batter's score of nought (zero)runs in bothinnings of a two-innings match (see this list ofPairs in test and first-class cricket).[1]
during the secondinnings of alimited overs match, the par score is thetarget theDuckworth-Lewis method calculates if the match were to be halted now (e.g. due to rain). Updated after each ball, the par score can be used to judge whether the chasing team is ahead or behind therun rate andwickets they will probably require to win, which is of interest even in uninterrupted matches.
the number of runs scored between a pair of batters before one of them gets dismissed. This also includes the deliveries faced and time taken.
Part-time bowler (or part-timer)
aspecialist batter (or even awicketkeeper) who is not known forbowling, but has adequate skills to occasionally bowl a few overs. Captains use part-timers to provide some variation in their attack, and to subject batters to bowlers they would not have prepared to face.[77]
Two examples of cricketpavilions: a small pavilion used inclub cricket, and the much largerLord's Pavilion.
a building or grandstand that contains the player's dressing rooms, located adjacent to thefield. At largergrounds, the pavilion usually incorporates seating (and other facilities) for members of the homeclub to watch the game.
Peach
a delivery bowled by a fast bowler considered unplayable, usually a really good delivery that a batter gets out to, or one that is too good that the batters cannot even edge.
Pea roller
A now illegal delivery where the ball is rolled along the ground rather than bowled over-arm.
abouncer on or just outside off-stump that passes within inches of the batter's face. So called because the ball is close enough to the batter's face that they can supposedly smell it.
Of a batter, to correctly identify which variation a bowler (often aspin bowler) has delivered.
Pick of the bowlers
the bowler who performed the best, whether over the course of an innings or a match.
Picket fences
an over in which one run is scored off each delivery. It looks like picket fences 111111, hence the name.
Pie Chucker (or Pie Thrower)
A poor bowler, usually of slow to medium pace whose deliveries are flighted so much as to appear similar to apie in the air. Considered easy to score off by batters – seeBuffet Bowling.[3]
alower orderbatter promoted up thebatting order to increase therun rate. The term, if not the precise sense, is borrowed from baseball.[1]
Apink ball
Pink ball
A type ofball that is intended to behave like ared ball but have the visibility of awhite ball. Used exclusively inday/nighttimed matches. Its construction is identical to the red ball, except greater quantities of afluorescent pink dye are used, and theseams are in black thread. Initially trialled in 2009, it was first used in aTest match in 2015. The properties of pink balls have been debated and continue to evolve as manufacturing techniques are adjusted.
1. the rectangular surface in the centre of the field where most of the action takes place, usually made of earth or clay. It is 22 yards in length.[1] Also known as the "deck", as used in the phrase "hit the deck", which is when a bowler makes the ball bounce more off the pitch.[78]
2. of the ball, to bounce before reaching the batter after delivery.
3. the spot where the ball pitches (sense 2).
Pitch (It) Up
to bowl adelivery on a fullerlength.
Pitch map
a diagram showing where a number of balls, usually from a particular bowler, have pitched.[25] Compare beehive.
Placement
the ball when it is hit such that it bisects or trisects thefielders placed on the field. The ball usually ends up being afour.
Platinum duck
a player dismissed without even facing a ball – most likely by being run out as the non-striker. Also sometimes referred to as aDiamond Duck.
Play and miss
when a batter aims to hit the ball with the bat but does not make contact; a swing and a miss
Playing on
for thebatter to hit the ball with theirbat but only succeed in diverting it onto thestumps. The batter is thus outbowled. Also known as "dragging on" or "chopping on"[1]
the set of rules specifying when the match begins, whichintervals and/ordrinks breaks occur, how long play can continue etc. These vary widely depending on the type of match (aTwenty20 lasts less than 3 hours, whilst aTest match takes up to five days) and may be adjusted by prior agreement to account for local climate, the specific competition etc.
Plumb
of a dismissal byLBW: indisputable, obvious.[1][3] Of a wicket, giving true bounce.[10]
One of two lines in the field defined as being four feet in front of and parallel to that end'sbowling crease where the wickets are positioned. A batter who does not have either the bat or some part of their body touching theground behind the popping crease is considered out of theirground and is in danger of being dismissedrun out orstumped.
a professionallimited overs competition that was played in England from 1969 to 2009, with 40overs per side
Protected area
An area of thepitch defined as two feet wide down the middle of the pitch and beginning five feet from eachpopping crease. Abowler is not allowed to trespass this area in theirfollow-through or the bowler is given a warning. Three such warnings will immediately bar them from bowling for the rest of theinnings.
a flush join between pieces of leather on the surface of theball, running at right angles to the main stitchedseam
Quick
Traditionally, aquick bowler was one who completed their over in a short space of time. In more recent years, it has been used as a synonym for afast orpace bowler. (Paradoxically, aquick bowler in the traditional sense was often also aslow bowler, that is, a bowler who delivered slow deliveries. Afast orpace bowler was rarely also aquick bowler in the traditional sense, because they took a longer time to complete an over.)
When the two batters run very quickly between the wickets to score a run
Quota
In alimited overs match, the maximum number ofovers that may be bowled by eachbowler. Equal to the total number of overs in theinnings divided by five (rounded up if necessary). For aOne Day International the quota is 10 overs, while for aT20 match the quota is 4 overs.
A quantity used as a league table tie-breaker in somefirst class tournaments. Defined as the number of runs scored per wicket lost when batting, divided by the number of runs conceded per wicket taken when bowling. The equivalent inlimited overs tournaments is thenet run rate.
1. A particularly poorbatter, who is, invariably, a specialistbowler. While most lower-order batters would be expected to occasionally score some useful runs, a rabbit is expected to be dismissed cheaply almost every time. Another term,ferret, refers to a batter even worse than a rabbit. The term comes fromhunting with ferrets where the hunter "sends in a ferret after the rabbits".[1]
2. A higher order batter who isout frequently to the same bowler is referred to as that bowler'srabbit orbunny.
Rain delay
A halt in game proceedings due to rain, but not yet awash out.
Rain rule
Any of various methods of determining which team wins a rain-shortened one-day match. The current preferred method is theDuckworth–Lewis method.
Ared ball
Red ball
The traditional type ofball. Its surface is composed of leather protected by a thin layer oflacquer, both dyed red. Red balls are used in almost alltimed matches and most amateur matches, during which the players wearwhites. Red balls are not used inday/night matches, because the dark colour is difficult to see during twilight or under floodlights (apink ball can be used instead). Compared to thewhite ball, red balls are harder wearing, being designed for at least 80 overs of continuous use. Red balls also tend toswing for longer than white balls.
Therun rate needed by thebatting team to win, in the secondinnings of alimited overs match. Calculated as the number ofruns required for victory (not atie), divided by the number ofovers remaining.[1] Often shown on thescoreboard and updated automatically after eachdelivery. A high required run rate necessitates more aggressive batting.
Reserve day
A vacant day in a touring schedule which can be used to replay or reconvene a match which iswashed out. Mostly seen in the latter stages of majorlimited-overs tournaments.
Rest day
A non-playing day in the middle of a multiple day game. These were once common, but are seldom seen in the modern era.
The final outcome of a match. Possible results are a win/loss, adraw, or atie. Alternatively,rain delays may lead to an outcome ofno result, or awash out may lead to the match beingabandoned before it begins.
for abatter to voluntarily leave the field during theirinnings, usually because of injury. A player who retires through injury/illness ("retired hurt/ill") may return in the same innings at the fall of a wicket, and continue where they left off.[10] A player who is uninjured ("retired out") may return only with the opposing captain's consent.
the art ofswinging the ball contrary to how a conventionally swung ball moves in the air;i.e. movement away from the rough side. Many theories as to how this may occur. Usually happens with an older ball than conventional swing, but not always, atmospheric conditions and bowler skill also being important factors. It has been espoused that once the 'rough' side becomes extremely rough a similar effect to that of a dimpled golf ball may cause it to move more quickly through the air than the 'shiny' side of the ball. Invented by Pakistani fast bowlerSarfaraz Nawaz and later perfected by the likes ofImran Khan,Wasim Akram andWaqar Younis.
A ball bowled short of a length that bounces up higher than expected and strikes the batter in the midriff (usually the side) and hits several ribs.
Right arm
a bowler who bowls the ball with their right hand is, by convention, called a 'right-arm' or 'right arm' bowler (rather than 'right hand' or 'right-handed'). (Contrast "right hand batter".)[63]
Right hand
a batter who bats right-handed is a 'right hand' bat. (Contrast "right arm bowler".)[63]
Ring field
A field which is set primarily to save singles, consisting of fieldsmen in all or most of the primary positions forward of the wicket, on or about the fielding circle (or where it would be).
Road
A very hard and flat pitch, good for batting on. Synonyms such asstreet,highway,etc. may sometimes be used in the same context.
Rogers
The second XI of a club or county. From the Warwickshire and New Zealand playerRoger Twose.[citation needed]
Agroundsman applies aroller to thepitch, while another paints thepopping crease
Roller
A cylindrical implement used to flatten thepitch before play or betweensessions. Usually there are two rollers available, a heavy roller and a light roller, with the choice of which to use being given to thecaptain of the batting side.
Rotate the strike
to look to make singles wherever possible, in order to ensure that both batters are continually facing deliveries and making runs. The opposite offarming the strike.
Rough
a worn-down section of the pitch, often due to bowlers' footmarks, from which spinners are able to obtain more turn.
the type of bowling action in which the bowler's outstretched arm is perpendicular to their body when they release the ball. Round arm bowling is legal in cricket.
Royal Duck
a dismissal for nought (zero), from the first ball faced in the game.
The basic unit of scoring: the team with the most runs wins the match (with rare exceptions if arain rule is required). The twobatters can score a run by both running from one end of thepitch to the other,grounding theirbat or foot beyond thepopping crease, before the fielding team can recover theball and return it for arun out. This usually requires thestriker to play ashot, directing the ball away from thefielders, in which case the run is credited to the striker. Multiple runs can be scored from a singledelivery, or by hitting aboundary (either afour or asix). The batting team (but not an individual batter) is credited with one or more runs if there areextras orpenalty runs.
Run chase
The act/task of the team batting second (in alimited-overs match) or batting fourth (in an unlimited overs match), trying to win a match by batting and surpassing the runs accumulated by the opponent.
a player from the batting side who assists an injuredbatter by running between thewickets. The runner wears and carry the same equipment, and can berun out.[10] Since 2011, runners have not been permitted in international cricket, but can be used at lower grades.[81]
The batters aresafe when in theirground, or starting from a position between thepopping creases it have made theirground before a fielder can break thewicket.
A large mechanical or electronic display that indicates the current score, controlled by thescorer. A basic scoreboard lists the number ofruns scored,wickets taken,overs completed, and (in the secondinnings of alimited overs match) thetarget required. More sophisticated scoreboards provide far more information, such as individual scores for eachbatter, thebowling analysis,required run rate,par score etc.
A person officially responsible for recording the scoring and detailed statistics of the game, usually ball-by-ball.
Scramble seam
a variation employed inseam bowling where the bowler makes the plane of the ball'sseam tumble, rather than stable at a narrow angle to the direction of thedelivery (seam up), or nearly perpendicular to the direction of the delivery (cross-seam). The hope is that the ball will bounce unpredictably depending on whether the ball's seam contacts the ground.
Seam
1. (noun) the raised stitching running around the circumference of the ball.[1]
2. (verb) for a ball to deviate off the pitch because it has bounced on its seam.
a bowling style which uses the uneven conditions of the ball – specifically the raised seam – to make it deviate upon bouncing off thepitch. Contrast withswing bowling.[10]
the period of each year when cricket is played. Varies substantially between countries.
Selector
a person who is delegated with the task of choosing players for a cricket team. Typically, the term is used in the context of player selection for national, provincial and other representative teams at the professional levels of the game, where a "panel of selectors" acts under the authority of the relevant national or provincial cricket administrative body.[10]
SENA
The countries South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia, deemed to have unique pitch conditions.[84] Also sometimes "SANE countries".[85]
Sent in
a team which bats first after losing thetoss is said to have been "sent in" by the opposing captain.[86]
Series
A set of matches played a few days apart between the same two teams in the same format, but usually at different locations. An internationaltour often includes aTest series, anODI series and aT20 series, each of between two and five matches.
of a batter, contrive to receive the majority of the balls bowled, often to protect a weaker batting partner. Typically, involves declining takingsingles early in overs, and trying to take singles late in overs.
Shooter
a delivery that skids after pitching (i.e. does not bounce as high as would be expected), usually at a quicker pace, resulting in a batter unable to hit the ball cleanly.[1]
Short
1. (of a fielding position) close to the batter, but not so close assilly; the opposite ofdeep.
adelivery that bounces relatively close to thebowler. The intent is to make the ball bounce well above waist height (abouncer). A slow or low-bouncing short-pitched ball is known as along hop.
a would-berun that does not count because, when turning for an additional run, one of the batters failed to ground some part of their body or bat behind thepopping crease.
Shot
the act of thebatter hitting the ball with their bat.
Shot selection
The choice by thebatter of whichshot (orleave) to attempt against eachdelivery. A major part ofbatting tactics, there are many factors that influence this decision.
Short Stop
When the wicket keeper stands upfront, the fielder placed right behind the wicket keeper is called a Short Stop. When the fielder stands outside the 30-yard circle, he is called a Long Stop.[citation needed]
Shoulder Arms
Rather than risk playing the ball, thebatter lifts the bat high above their shoulder to keep their bat and hand out of harm's way.[1]
Side on
1. A side on bowler has back foot, chest and hips aligned towards the batter at the instant ofback foot contact.
2. A batter is side on if their hips and shoulders are facing at ninety degrees to the bowler.
View along apitch showing thesight screen, which provides a plain white background behind thebowler, to help thebatter see ared ball
a large board placed behind thebowler, beyond theboundary, used to provide contrast to the ball, thereby aiding thestriker in seeing the ball when it is delivered. Typically, coloured white to contrast a red ball, or black to contrast a white ball.[10]
a standardised set of body motions used by theumpire to indicate decisions to the players and thescorer. Most signals utilise only the position or motion of the arm, but some also involve legs or fingers. For example, tapping one thigh while lifting that foot off the ground indicatesleg byes, or holding one arm directly upwards while extending a single finger meansout.
Silly
a modifier to the names of somefielding positions to denote that they are unusually close to the batter, most often silly mid-off, silly mid-on, silly midwicket and silly point.[3]
A one-vs-one version of cricket, in which the two competitorsbat andbowl against each other, while neutral participantsfield for both. Eachinning consists of a singlewicket and a limited number ofovers (usually two or three). Currently only played informally and rarely seen, the format was once highly popular and played professionally, particularly from 1750 to 1850.
Sitter
a very easycatch. A fielder who misses such a catch is said to have 'dropped a sitter'.
A mistimedshot hit almost straight up in the air, to the sky. Usually results in thebatter being caught out. Occasionally however thefielder positions themself perfectly to take thecatch but misses it or drops it. Such an error is considered very embarrassing for thefielder.
Skipper
An informal term for thecaptain, from thenautical skipper. Sometimes shortened to 'skip', particularly as a nickname.
Skyline
alternative name forManhattan.
Slash
a cut, but played aggressively or possibly recklessly – a cut (q.v.) being ashot playedsquare on theoff side to ashort-pitcheddelivery wide ofoffstump. So called because thebatter makes a "cutting" motion as they play theshot.
verbal exchanges between players on opposing sides. This ranges from banter between friends to verbal abuse or a psychological tactic to gain advantage of the opposition by undermining their confidence or breaking their concentration. Considered in some cricketing countries to be against the spirit of the game, but acceptable in others.[3]
Slice
a kind ofcutshot played with the bat making an obtuse angle with the batter.[10]
a closefielder behind thebatter, next to thewicket-keeper on the off-side. Also ("in the slips", "at first slip") the positions occupied by such fielders.[3] Commonly there will be two or three slips in anattacking field (although there is no limit and a captain may use more), and one or none in adefensive field.[3]
a powerfulshot, in which thebatter hits theball high and long in an attempt to reach theboundary. Regarded as a risky shot, it will often result in asix or afour, but also has a high chance of gettingout. Used by batters with more strength than skill, or who need to score runs quickly (seedeath overs).
a medium-pace delivery bowled by afast bowler. Designed to deceive the batter into playing the ball too early and skying it to a fielder. Has several variations.
Slow left armer
a left-arm,orthodox, finger spinbowler; the left-handed equivalent of an off spinner (seeoff spin).
Snick (alsoedge)
a slight deviation of the ball off the edge of the bat.
a television graphic, also available for use by thethird umpire, used to assess on a replay whether or not the batter hassnicked the ball. The graphic juxtaposes a slow motion replay with a soundoscilloscope, and is used to assess whether a sharp sound was recorded at the same moment as the ball passes the bat. Sometimes shortened tosnicko.
Soft hands (batting) (alsosoft bat)
To bat with soft hands (or play with a soft bat) is to hold the bat loosely or with relaxed hands so that it absorbs the ball's momentum, meaning that the ball does not rebound sharply off it when the shot is played.
Soft hands (fielding)
To catch the ball with soft hands is to relax the hands and follow through the motion of the ball in the air, allowing the ball to hit the hands gently rather than risking it bouncing out of the hands.
Specialist
a player selected in the team primarily for a single skill,i.e. not anall-rounder or awicket-keeper-batter. Such players can be referred to as specialist batters, specialist bowlers, or specialist wicketkeepers.
Spectacles
another word for apair. From the appearance of twoducks on the scorecard as 0–0.
Spell
1. the number of continuousovers abowler bowls before being relieved.
Spider Graph (alsoWagon Wheel)
agraphical chart that represents thetrajectory of the ball from each scoring stroke, including its direction, distance travelled, and (where the technology allows) elevation and bounces. Each scoring stroke is represented by a coloured line, typicallycolour-coded by the number of runs from the stroke. The Spider Graph is a more detailed version of the traditionalWagon Wheel graphic; some commentators use the two terms interchangeably, while others use Wagon Wheel only for the less-detailed version.[citation needed]
a style of bowling in which a spinbowler ("spinner") attempts to deceive thebatter by imparting spin on the ball using either their fingers or their wrist. Spin bowling is most effective when the ball is travelling relatively slowly, and so most spinners bowl at a pace between 40 and 55 mph.
A nebulous concept of good conduct, encompassing fair play,sportsmanship, mutual respect and acceptance of theumpires' decisions. Considered an integral part of the sport. Since 2000 a preamble to theLaws of cricket instructs all participants to act within the spirit of cricket.
Splice
the joint between the handle and the blade of abat; the weakest part of the bat. If the ball hits the splice it is likely todolly up for an easycatch.
Square
1. of a position on the field, perpendicular to the line of the pitch; the opposite offine.
2. the area in the middle of the ground where thepitches are prepared.
3. an imaginary line extending the crease to the boundary on the leg side; it is illegal to have more than two fielders behind square.
Square leg
1. a fielding position on the on side approximately at right angles to the batter
2. a person who fields at that position
Square-cut
Acut shot, playedsquare, i.e. perpendicular to the bowler's delivery.
Stance (alsobatting stance)
the posture of a batter holding their bat when facing a delivery.
position adopted by aWicket-keeper, close to the stumps, when a slow (or, occasionally,medium pace) bowler is operating.
Start
a batter is said to have a start when they successfully avoid being dismissed for very few runs; in Australia, this is generally understood to mean a score of twenty runs. Once a batter survives this initial period and becomes established, batting generally becomes easier as they have settled into a rhythm and have adapted to the playing conditions and are less vulnerable, so they are then expected to convert their starts into big scores.
Steaming in
a bowler taking a fast run-up to bowl is said to be steaming in.
Sticky dog
a drying wicket that is exceedingly difficult to bat on. Uncommon if not non-existent in recent years due to the routine covering of pitches.
a bowler whose role is to restrict scoring rather than to take wickets. Usually called upon to bowl numerousovers at a miserlyrun rate whilestrike bowlers rest betweenspells or attempt to take wickets from the other end.
Stock delivery or stock ball)
Abowler's standard type ofdelivery; the one they bowl most frequently.[1] Bowlers usually have a single stock delivery and one or morevariations.
Stodger
a batter who makes it their job to defend and to score at a mediocre rate. This style is prone to derogatory comments but also compliments on resilience and technique.
Close to the imaginary line between the two sets ofstumps (cf.wicket-to-wicket). Used as an adjective, to indicate the direction of ashot, as a modifier to afielding position, or to describe theline of adelivery.
the bat when held vertically, or when swung through a vertical arc
Straight up-and-down
pejorative term for a fast- or medium-paced bowler who cannot swing or seam the ball.
Stranded
a batter is said to be stranded on their score if they narrowly miss scoring acentury or similar milestone because their team's innings ends, rather than because they weredismissed.
Strangled
a form ofdismissal whereby a batter, in trying to play aglance veryfine to aleg-side ball, gets aninside edge which is caught by thewicket-keeper.[citation needed]
Street
a pitch which is easy for batters and difficult for bowlers. Sometimes called a road, highway, and various other synonyms for street.
Strike
the position as batter facing the bowler, as opposed tonon-striker. Often, 'Keep [the] strike', to arrange runs on the last ball of an over so as to face the first ball of the next.Farm the strike orShepherd the strike: to keep doing this to protect a less skilful batter.[2]
Strike bowler
an attacking bowler whose role is to take wickets rather than to restrict scoring. Usually afast bowler or attackingspinner who bowls in short spells toattacking field settings.
a method ofdismissing abatter, in which thewicketkeeper breaks the batter's wicket with the ball while the batter is outside theircrease but has not attempted arun
Stumps
1. the plural ofstump
2. in atimed match lasting more than one day, the end of a day's play if the match is not yet complete. For example, 'at stumps, Team A were leading by...'. See alsodraw stumps.[2]
Stump-cam
A small television camera inside middle stump to provide images of play close to the stumps, particularly when a batter is bowled out.[88]
a player able to replace another on the fielding side. A substitute fielder may carry out normal fielding duties but is not allowed to bat, bowl or keep wicket.
Sun ball
A method of bowling where the ball is intentionally bowled at a great height and a sluggish pace. This is done to interrupt the batter's field of vision using the sun's rays, often causing disastrous consequences such as blunt strikes to the head.[citation needed]
Under experimental One-Day International rules played between July 2005 and February 2006, the supersub was asubstitute player able to come on and replace any player at any point during the game, with the substitute able to take over the substituted player's batting and bowling duties – as distinct from a traditional substitute, who can field but is not permitted to bat, bowl or keep wicket.[89]
A method for breaking atie used in somelimited overs matches. Each team plays one moreover with nominatedbatters (who may already have beendismissed in the main game), or until twowickets have been lost. The team that scores the mostruns in their super over wins. The rules vary between competitions if the scores are still tied after the super over, but most commonly aboundary count is used.
ashot played to agood length slowdelivery. Thebatter gets down on one knee and "sweeps" the ball to theleg side.
Sweet spot
the small area on the face of thebat that gives maximum power for minimum effort when the ball is hit with it. Also known as the "middle" or "meat" of the bat. A shot that is struck with the sweet spot is referred to as being "well timed" (seetiming).
Swerve
less common term for thedrift used by spin bowlers
a bowling style usually employed by fast andmedium-pacebowlers. The fielding side will polish the ball on one side of the seam only; as theinnings continues, the ball will become worn on one side, but shiny on the other. When the ball is bowled with the seam upright, the air will travel faster over the shiny side than the worn side. This makes the ball swing (curve) in the air. Conventional swing would mean that the ball curves in the air away from the shiny side. (see alsoreverse swing).[10]
Swish
a rapid or careless attacking stroke by the batter.
a shot played by a batter who reverses both their stance and their grip during the bowler's run-up, so that a right-handed batter would play the shot as an orthodox left-hander. The shot was popularised by England batterKevin Pietersen, prompting some discussion about its impact on the rules, e.g. for lbw decisions in which it is necessary to distinguish between off and leg stumps.
common colloquialism for thelower order of a batting line-up.[3] If the tailwags it means the lower order has scored significantly well, perhaps enough to salvage a win. A "long tail" is a batting lineup which contains more bowlers than usual, and is considered weaker than normal.
a player who bats towards the end of thebatting order, usually a specialistbowler orwicket-keeper with relatively poor batting skills.[1]
Tampering
scratching, scuffing, or otherwise unnaturally altering the cricket ball outside of its normal wear and tear. When this is done, it is usually by the fielding team, to give their bowler an edge so that the ball might spin or seam more effectively. This is an illegal act in the game.
The score that the team batting last has to score to beat their opponents. This is one run more than what the team batting first managed; or, in limited overs cricket, an adjusted value determined by arain rule.
Tea
the second of the two intervals during a full day's play is known as thetea interval, due to its timing at about tea-time. In matches lasting only an afternoon, the tea interval is usually taken betweeninnings.
The highest level of the sport. Consists oftimed matches that last up to five days, with twoinnings per side. Played between senior international teams which have been grantedTest status.
Textbook shot
Ashot played by thebatters with perfect orthodox technique, exactly as shown in textbooks on batting.
Third man
position behind thewicket-keeper on theoff-side, beyond theslip andgully areas
an off-fieldumpire, equipped with a television monitor, whose assistance the two on-fieldumpires can seek when in doubt.
Through the gate
Theball passing thebatter in the gap between theirbat andpads. A well-executedforward defence leaves no such gap ('shuts the gate'), so if adelivery passes 'through the gate' it indicates poorshot selection or defensive technique by thebatter, which may result in beingoutbowled.
the result of a cricket match in which the two teams' scores are equal and the team batting last isall out; or in alimited overs match, the allotted overs have been played. Not to be confused with adraw, in which neither team wins but the scores are not equal.
Tied down
A batter or batting team having their run-making restricted by the bowling side.
Timber
the (wooden) stumps. Achieving aBowled dismissal is to have "hit the timber", or simply "Timber!".
Timed match
a match whose duration is based on a set amount of time rather than a set number of overs. Timed matches usually have a draw as a potential result, in addition to the win/loss or tie that can be achieved inlimited overs cricket. Allfirst-class cricket is currently played under a timed format.
A batter is ruledtimed out following the fall of a wicket if they do not occupy the crease within a set time. The new batter is then out just as if they had been bowled, stumped, run out or caught.
Timeless match
a match which is played until both teams have completed their allotted innings or overs, regardless of how many days are required. Many early first-class matches were played in a timeless format, but the need for advanced scheduling has meant that timeless matches are seldom played today.
Timing
the art of striking the ball so that it hits the bat'ssweet spot. A "well-timed" shot imparts great speed to the ball but appears effortless.
Toblerone
Lengths of soft sponge, usually printed with advertising, that can be placed over theboundary rope. When in use, the toblerone counts as part of the rope e.g. for determining whether aboundary has been scored. So-called because itstriangular prism shape is similar to that ofToblerone chocolate.[citation needed]
the ball hitting the top edge of the bat when a batter plays across-bat shot
Top order
thebatters batting in the top 4 in thebatting order. These are generally the most skilled batters in the team, equipped with the technique and temperament to continue batting for long periods, often for hours or a whole day.
the traditional flipping of a coin to determine which captain will have the right to choose whether to bat or field.[91]
Tour
An organised itinerary of matches requiring travel away from the team's usual base. Used especially in international cricket for the representative team of one nation playing a series of matches in another nation.[92]
Tour match
any match on atour which does not have full international status; most typically matches played as a warm-up between the travelling international team and a local club or composite team.
Track
another term for the pitch.
Triggered
when the umpire gives a batter out LBW almost immediately with little consideration for any other factor than the ball hitting the pads in front of the stumps. The batter is said to have been "triggered" or "trig'd" because the Umpire has an itchy trigger finger, ready to raise it to give the batter out easily.[citation needed]
Trimmer
a high-quality fast bowling delivery, especially one that results in a dismissal of a batter by removing the bails without hitting the stumps[92]
Trundler
a reliable, steadymedium-pacebowler who is not especially good, but is not especially bad either.[1] See alsomilitary medium.
Turn
manner in which a battergrounds the bat at the end of arun, change directions, and prepare to take another run. The correct execution is for the batter to turn towards the side of the field the ball was played to in order to judge whether another run is possible. SeeTurn blind,Two.Also the amount a spin ball changes directions – turns/spins – after hitting the pitch. For example, "That leg spin turned a lot."
Turn blind
turn by a batter facing to the side of field away from that to which the ball was played, deprecated as it increases the danger of arun out.
Tweaker
An informal (often affectionate) term for aspin bowler.[5]
Twelfth man
Traditionally, the firstsubstitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured. InTest matches, twelve players are named to a team prior to the match, with the final reduction to eleven occurring immediately prior to play commencing on the first day. This gives the captain some flexibility in team selection, dependent on the conditions (e.g. aspin bowler may be named to the team, but omitted if the captain feels that thepitch is not suitable for spin bowling). InOne Day International games, "each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 4 substitute fielders in writing to the ICC Match Referee before the toss".[1][93]
An official who enforces thelaws[94] and adjudicates play. One umpire stands behind thewicket at thenon-striker's end, while a second (usually) stands atsquare leg, with the positions alternating for eachover. The two on-field umpires use a system of armsignals to indicate decisions to the players and thescorer. Televised matches usually also have athird umpire to adjudicate on replays and theumpire decision review system.
Official system to challenge certain decisions made by anumpire. Thethird umpire then reviews the decision using various technological aids, such asslow motion television replays,ball tracking, asnickometer etc. Abatter may challenge a decision ofout, and thecaptain of thefielding side may challenge anot out decision. Teams are limited in the number of unsuccessful reviews perinning; if they have reached that limit they are permitted no further reviews. The umpires themselves can reviewrun out,stumped,caught andno ball decisions, or whether ashot has scored aboundary. Only available in televised games, because the necessary equipment is provided by the broadcaster.
Umpire's call
Outcome of theUmpire Decision Review System if thethird umpire finds the evidence inconclusive, or within the statedmargin of error. The originalumpire's decision stands, but the review does not count towards the team limit on unsuccessful reviews.
Uncapped
a player who has never played at the international level (see "cap (sense 2)".)
the action of bowling with the arm swinging from behind the body in a downswing arc and then releasing the ball on the up swing without bending the elbow. This type of bowling is now illegal in formal cricket, but commonly played in informal types of cricket. Compare withoverarm.
Under-spin (alsoback-spin)
backward rotation on the ball, causing it to decrease speed immediately afterpitching.
Unorthodox
1. a shot played not in the accepted "textbook" manner, often with a degree of improvisation.
2. a left armspin bowler who spins the ball with their wrist in a similar manner to a right-armleg-spin bowler. This imparts spin in the same direction as a right-handedoff-spin bowler. See:Left-arm unorthodox spin.
Unplayable delivery
a ball that is impossible for the batter to deal with; used to imply that the batter was out more through the skill of the bowler than through their own error.
Upper Cut
A typical shot played against a short ball orbouncer. Here the batter makes a cut above their head and the ball usually goes to the third-man area. First used in International cricket bySachin Tendulkar
Uppish
A shot that gains a risky amount of height, opening up the possibility of the batter being caught.
Anydelivery by thebowler which is not theirstock ball. Used to make the bowling less predictable, which may surprise or deceive thebatter.
Vee
1. an unmarked, loosely defined V-shaped area on the ground at which the batter stands at the apex. The two sides of the "V" go through the mid-off and mid-on regions, similar to the fair area of abaseball field, or the area where fielders "on the drive" are placed. Most shots played into this region are straight-batted shots, which do not involve the risks associated with playing across the line.[1]
2. the V-shaped joint between the lower end of the handle and theblade of thebat (see alsosplice).
Adjective, roughly equivalent to 'amateurish', indicating that the standard of play or organisation is typical forvillage cricket.Pejorative if applied to a professional.
Amateur cricket, particularly in England & Wales, with players typically drawn from a single village or suburb. The level of organisation varies: sometimes games are part of an official league, sometimes onlyfriendly matches. The standard of play is below that ofclub cricket and often includes beginners to the sport.
A loose non-committal shot, usually played to a ball pitched short of length and well wide of the off stump.
Wag
when thetail (thelower order of the batting line-up) scores more runs than it is expected to, it is said to have wagged (as an extension of theanimal tailmetaphor)
Wagon wheel
1. a graphic which divides thefield into six sectors (looking like the spoked wheel of awagon), indicating how manyruns abatter has scored withshots into each sector.
acall by abatter which defers the decision for a few seconds, before being followed by a call ofyes orno. Used when it is unclear whether afielder will reach theball before it passes them. The battingpartner should not begin arun, but remain ready to do so (includingbacking up) until the follow-up call.
Walk
of a batter, to walk off the pitch, knowing or believing that they are out, rather than waiting for an umpire to give them out (the umpire is required to intervene if they were not about to give an out decision).[95] Generally considered to be sportsmanlike behaviour, but rarer in international cricket than domestic cricket.[1]
Walking in
fielders will, unless fielding close in, usually "walk in" a few paces just before the bowler bowls in order to be alert if ball is hit in their direction.
Walking wicket
a very poor batter, particularlytail-end batters, who is usually a specialist bowler.[96]
Wash out
a cricket match, or a specific day of a cricket match, which is abandoned with either no play or very little play due to rain.
Wearing wicket
On a turf pitch, typically consisting of dry/dead grass on the top, the soil can be loosened because of the players, stepping on it during play, and rough, abrasive patches can form. This means that as the pitch wears, or becomes worn, balls that land in these rough areas will grip the surface more and turn more drastically, thereby becoming more helpful tospin bowling. Uneven bounce can also result.
A wornwhite ball
White ball
A type ofball introduced during the 20th century to facilitateday/night matches, being easier to see underfloodlights. Its construction is very similar to thered ball, but the surface is bleached white, rather than dyed. White balls are used in all professionallimited overs matches, during which the players wear a brightly colouredteam kit. Compared to thered ball, white balls wear more quickly, generally becoming too worn for use after about 30overs (a 50-over innings uses two white balls, usually one from each end). The white ball also provides moreswing, but for fewer overs, than the red ball.
Whites
predominantly white or cream coloured clothing worn by players during matches with ared ball. Usually consists oflong trousers, a short- or long-sleevedpolo shirt, and optionally a knittedjumper orsleeveless sweater. Professionallimited overs matches with awhite ball instead use coloured uniforms, known aspyjamas.
Diagram of awicket composed ofstumps andbails – ball shown for scale
3. thedismissal of abatter.[1] Numerous phrases exist using this definition, such as "throwing away one's wicket", which means to get out too easily,[97] or "valuing/putting a price on one's wicket", which is largely the opposite[98]
the player on the fielding side who stands immediately behind thebatting endwicket. A specialist position, used throughout the game. The wicket-keeper is the only player in the fielding side allowed to wear gloves and external leg guards, under Law 40.[2]
awicket-keeper who is also a very goodbatter, capable of opening the batting or making good scores in thetop order.
Wicket maiden
amaiden over in which thebowler also dismisses abatter. Adouble wicket maiden if two wickets are taken, and so on.[2]
Wicket-to-wicket (orstump-to-stump)
an imaginary line connecting the twowickets, also a style of straight, un-varied bowling.
Wickets in hand
The number ofwickets remaining in theinnings for the batting side.[67] For example, a team which has lost four of its ten wickets is said to 'have six wickets in hand'.
adelivery that passes illegally wide of thewicket, scoring anextra for the batting side. A wide does not count as one of the six valid deliveries that must be made in each over – an extra ball must be bowled for each wide.[1][2]
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, or simplyWisden, colloquially the (Yellow) Bible of Cricket, is a cricket reference book published annually since 1864 in the UK. In 1998 an Australian and in 2012 an Indian edition was launched.
Cricket played between teams consisting solely of women. First recorded in 1745, it was administered separately from men's cricket until 2005. There are almost no differences in the rules.
Worm
a plot of either the cumulative runs scored, or the progressive run rate achieved by a team (the y-axis) against the over number (x-axis) in limited-overs cricket.
a form ofspin bowling in which theball is made to rotate by the position and/or movement of thebowler's wrist (contrast withfinger spin). For a right-handed bowler this producesleg spin, whereas the same technique by a left-handed bowler producesleft arm unorthodox spin.
Wrong foot
when thebowling foot is thefront foot the delivery is said to be bowled off thewrong foot. Such a bowler is said to bowl off the wrong foot.
Wrong footed
when the batter is initially moving either back or forward to a delivery and then has to suddenly change which foot they use (back or front), they are said to have been wrong-footed. Usually applies to spin bowling.
Wrong 'un
another name for agoogly; most common in Australia.[1][3]
The yips are occasionally experienced bybowlers suffering from a loss of confidence. A psychological condition whereby thebowler is unable to sufficiently relax when delivering theball – often holding the ball too long before release, losing flight, turn and accuracy in the process. Bowlers have been known to suffer from the yips for as little as a few overs, up to the course of an entire season or more.[1]
a (usually fast)delivery that is pitched very close to thebatter. The intent is for it to pitch exactly underneath theirbat or on their toes, in theblock hole. A perfectly pitched fast yorker is very difficult for a batter to play; however a poorly delivered yorker can turn into ahalf-volley (too short) or afull toss (too full).[1]
a variation of theflipper bowled by aleg-break bowler. Typically, 'Zoots' along the ground without much bounce. This ball is possibly a myth made up byShane Warne to create confusion amongst opposition sides.[1]
^Briggs, Simon (9 December 2010)."The Ashes 2010: Hawk-Eye founder claims rival system is not being so eagle-eyed".Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved7 August 2019.Virtual Eye – or 'Eagle Eye', as it is known in Australia – has been developed by a New Zealand-based company, Animation Research Ltd, and has provided ball-tracking services for series in Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe.
^"Change to Law 41.7 (from 1st April 2019)"(PDF).Lord's.Marylebone Cricket Club. 13 November 2018. Retrieved17 February 2020.There is no longer a 'catch-all' sanction, but umpires are instead required to use their best judgement to determine whether a delivery is dangerous. If it is dangerous, it will lead to a first and final warning. If not, it will still be a No ball, but there will be no warning.
^Morgan, James (25 November 2019)."Embarrassed – Day 5 at Mount Maunganui".The Full Toss. Retrieved24 January 2020.It was a nothing shot – a careless effort. It's amazing how often shots lacking conviction ricochet back onto the stumps.
^abThe Wisden Dictionary of Cricket, Third edition, Michael Rundell, A & C Black, London, 2006
^"standard ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL MATCH playing conditions 4.36 04 APPENDIX 7 Decision Review System (DRS) - Playing Conditions"(PDF). Retrieved25 June 2023.1 Law 1 The Players 1.1 Law 1.1 - Number of Players Law 1.1 shall be replaced by the following: A match is played between two sides. Each side shall consist of 11 players, one of whom shall be captain. 1.2 Law 1.2 - Nomination of Players Law 1.2 shall be replaced by the following: 1.2.1 Each captain shall nominate 11 players plus a maximum of 4 substitute fielders in writing to the ICC Match Referee before the toss. No player (member of the playing eleven) may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain. 1.2.2 Only those nominated as substitute fielders shall be entitled to act as substitute fielders during the match, unless the ICC Match Referee, in exceptional circumstances, allows subsequent additions. 1.2.3 All those nominated including those nominated as substitute fielders, must be eligible to play for that particular team and by such nomination the nominees shall warrant that they are so eligible. 1.2.4 In addition, by their nomination, the nominees shall be deemed to have agreed to abide by all the applicable ICC Regulations pertaining to international cricket and in particular, the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, the Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel (hereafter referred to as the ICC Code of Conduct), the Anti-Racism Code for Players and Player Support Personnel, the Anti-Doping Code and the Anti-Corruption Code.
^Laws of Cricket (2017 edition) Law 31.7 "An umpire shall intervene if satisfied that a batter, not having been given out, has left the wicket under a misapprehension of being out.
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