Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
65 terms
- Back-Foot PlayBeginnerBack-foot play is batting in which the batter moves the weight back and onto the rear foot to play short-pitched or rising deliveries. This creates time by moving away from the pitch of the ball.
- BackliftBeginnerThe backlift is the upward movement of the bat before the batter plays a stroke. This means the height, direction, and angle of the backlift influence bat path and ultimately the direction of the shot.
- Bottom HandIntermediateIn cricket batting, the bottom hand is the lower hand on the bat handle (for a right-hander, the right hand) and controls the power and direction of cross-bat strokes. This means too dominant, it closes the bat face and causes off-side trouble.
- BouncerIntermediateA bouncer is a fast, short-pitched delivery that rears up toward the batter's head or chest, used to intimidate, disrupt balance, and set up the fuller ball.
- BowledBeginnerBowled is a dismissal where the ball, delivered by the bowler, hits the stumps and dislodges at least one bail without the batter touching it in a way that counts as a legal stroke.
- Catching PositionBeginnerA catching position in cricket is the stance and body alignment a fielder adopts. At the same time, waiting for a possible catch. This means soft knees, hands in front, eyes on the ball. This means to maximise reaction time and secure the catch.
- CaughtBeginnerCaught is the most common dismissal in cricket. This means the batter is out when a fielder catches the ball on the full (without it bouncing) after it has come off the bat or glove.
- CenturyBeginnerA century is a batting milestone of 100 or more runs scored by a single batter in one innings. This means the most celebrated individual achievement in cricket batting.
- Cover DriveIntermediateThe cover drive is an elegant front-foot stroke that sends a full ball outside off stump through the cover region, between point and mid-off.
- CreaseBeginnerThe crease is any of the white painted lines on the cricket pitch that define legal bowling positions, the safe zone for batters. The starting point for LBW and run-out adjudications.
- Death OversBeginnerThe death overs are the final overs of a limited-overs innings. This means typically overs 17–20 in T20 or 41–50 in one-day cricket. This means when batting teams try to maximise runs and bowlers aim to minimise them.
- Death-Overs BowlingAdvancedDeath-overs bowling is the skill of bowling the final overs of a limited-overs innings. This means typically overs 17–20 in T20 or overs 41–50 in one-day cricket. This means when the batting team is trying to hit every ball for a boundary.
- Direct Hit Run-OutIntermediateA direct hit run-out is when a fielder throws the ball and hits the stumps directly. Without the ball being relayed through the wicket-keeper. This means to dismiss a batter who is short of their crease.
- Diving StopIntermediateA diving stop is a fielding technique where the player launches themselves horizontally through the air to stop a ball that is beyond their standing reach, often preventing a certain boundary.
- DriveBeginnerIn cricket, a drive is an attacking stroke played with a straight, full swing of the bat to a full-length ball. This sends it along the ground in front of the wicket. (This differs entirely from a golf drive off the tee.)
- FlickIntermediateThe flick is an attacking wrist stroke played to a full ball on the leg side. This uses a strong wrist roll to whip the ball to the mid-wicket or square-leg area.
- FootworkBeginnerFootwork in cricket batting refers to the movement of the feet to get into the optimal position to play each delivery. This means moving quickly and correctly to the pitch of the ball is the basis of all good batting.
- Front-Foot DefenceBeginnerThe front-foot defence is a defensive batting stroke where the batter strides forward and blocks a good-length ball with a straight, angled bat to keep it down and safe.
- Full TossBeginnerA full toss is a delivery that reaches the batter without pitching on the ground — arriving above waist height on the full. A deliberate waist-high full toss is called a beamer and is illegal.
- GlanceIntermediateThe glance (or leg glance) is a wristy deflection played to a ball on the leg side, angling the bat face to direct the ball fine to leg without force.
- GlideAdvancedThe glide is a delicate deflection played to a full or good-length ball outside off stump. This uses an open bat face to steer the ball fine on the off side between slip and third man.
- Golden DuckBeginnerA golden duck is when a batter is dismissed for zero runs on the very first ball they face in an innings. This means the most emphatic possible batting failure.
- Good LengthBeginnerA good-length delivery is one that pitches at the spot that forces the batter to be uncertain whether to play off the front foot or the back foot. This means the most dangerous line for any bowler.
- GooglyAdvancedA googly is a deceptive wrist-spin delivery from a leg-spinner that turns the opposite way to the stock ball. This means toward a right-handed batter instead of away. This means disguised by an identical action.
- Ground FieldingBeginnerGround fielding is the skill of intercepting, picking up, and controlling cricket balls rolling or bouncing along the ground, forming the majority of fielding actions during a match.
- Head PositionBeginnerHead position in batting refers to where and how still the batter's head is during the stroke. This means keeping the head level, forward-leaning, and over the ball is a universal marker of quality technique.
- Hook ShotIntermediateThe hook shot is an attacking batting stroke played to a short-pitched, rising ball aimed at the body or head. This means the batter pivots and whips the ball to the leg side, often in front of square.
- In-SwingIntermediateIn-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from off to leg (in towards the body of a right-handed batter), often targeting the stumps or pads.
- JudgmentIntermediateJudgment in cricket batting is the ability to quickly decide which deliveries to play and which to leave, choosing the right shot for each ball bowled.
- Late CutAdvancedThe late cut is a delicate batting stroke played to a short, wide ball outside off stump. This uses soft wrists to deflect the ball very fine to third man after it has almost passed the batter.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket)BeginnerLBW is a mode of dismissal. This means if the ball would have hit the stumps but the batter's pad intercepts it first. This means under specific conditions. This means the umpire can rule them leg before wicket.
- Leg-CutterAdvancedThe leg-cutter is a pace bowling variation where the ball is cut off the middle and ring fingers to move towards the leg side off the pitch, acting like a slow leg-break.
- Leg-SpinIntermediateLeg-spin is a type of spin bowling where a right-arm bowler spins the ball from leg to off (from right to left as seen by the batter). This uses wrist rotation to impart heavy clockwise topspin.
- New BallBeginnerThe new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs). This swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
- No-BallBeginnerA no-ball is an illegal delivery in cricket. This means most commonly when the bowler's front foot lands beyond the popping crease. This means resulting in one extra run and the delivery being re-bowled. The batter cannot be dismissed (except run out).
- Off-CutterAdvancedThe off-cutter is a pace bowling variation where the ball is cut off the index finger and middle finger to spin towards the off side off the pitch, acting like a slow off-break without a full-length spin action.
- Off-SpinAdvancedOff-spin is a style of finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from off to leg. This means toward a right-handed batter. This means through finger action rather than wrist action, with the off-break as its stock delivery.
- On DriveIntermediateThe on drive is a classical front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on middle or leg stump. This sends the ball through the mid-on region on the leg side.
- Out-SwingIntermediateOut-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from leg to off (away from the body of a right-handed batter), enticing an edge towards the slip cordon.
- Outfield PlayBeginnerOutfield play refers to fielding beyond the inner ring near the boundary, where players must intercept, chase, slide, and throw powerfully to prevent boundaries and effect run-outs.
- PowerplayBeginnerThe powerplay is a mandatory period of fielding restrictions in limited-overs cricket where only two fielders are allowed outside the inner fielding circle. This creates more scoring opportunities for the batting side.
- Pull ShotIntermediateThe pull shot is a back-foot, cross-bat stroke played to a short-pitched ball, swinging it around to the leg side, typically between mid-wicket and square leg.
- Reverse SweepAdvancedThe reverse sweep is an attacking stroke where the batter kneels on the front knee and sweeps the ball to the off side. This means the mirror image of the conventional sweep, played in the opposite direction.
- Reverse SwingAdvancedReverse swing is a phenomenon where an old, asymmetrically worn ball swings in the opposite direction to conventional swing, deceiving batters conditioned to expect conventional movement.
- Run OutBeginnerA run out occurs when a fielder hits the stumps with the ball. At the same time, a batter is outside their crease. At the same time, attempting a run. This results in the batter being dismissed.
- Seam BowlingIntermediateSeam bowling is a style of pace bowling where the ball is gripped. As a result, the seam is upright and the ball lands on the seam. This causes it to deviate unpredictably off the pitch.
- Slip CatchingIntermediateSlip catching is the specialist fielding skill of catching edges from the bat in the slip cordon. This means the group of fielders positioned behind the batter on the off side. This means typically requiring exceptional reflexes and soft hands.
- Slog SweepIntermediateThe slog sweep is a powerful, high-risk batting stroke where the batter sweeps a short-pitched or good-length ball over deep mid-wicket, aiming to hit it out of the ground for six.
- Slower BallIntermediateThe slower ball is a variation delivery bowled by a pace bowler at by a lot reduced speed. This means usually 20–30 km/h below full pace. This means to deceive a batter expecting the standard pace.
- Square CutIntermediateThe square cut is a back-foot, cross-bat stroke played to a short, wide ball outside off stump, slashing it square on the off side toward point.
- Straight BatBeginnerPlaying with a straight bat means swinging the bat vertically, in line with the ball's path. This means the safest, most orthodox technique for defending and driving balls of a full or good length.
- Straight DriveIntermediateThe straight drive is a front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on or just outside off stump. This sends the ball back past the bowler straight down the ground.
- StumpsBeginnerStumps are the three upright wooden posts. This means off stump, middle stump, and leg stump. This means that form each wicket in cricket, topped by two small bails that fall if the ball strikes them.
- Super OverBeginnerThe super over is a tie-breaking mechanism in limited-overs cricket. This means if scores are tied at the end of a match, each team bats one final over of six balls to determine the winner.
- Sweep ShotAdvancedThe sweep is a cross-bat shot played on one knee to a (usually spinning) good-length ball, sweeping it around to the leg side to counter turn and length.
- Swing BowlingAdvancedSwing bowling is making a fast-bowled ball curve sideways through the air. This means toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). This means by exploiting the pressure difference created when one side of the ball is shinier than the other.
- T20 FormatBeginnerT20 (Twenty20) cricket is the shortest mainstream format of the game. This means each side bats for a maximum of 20 overs. This means producing fast-paced, high-scoring matches typically completed in under three hours.
- Test CricketBeginnerTest cricket is the oldest, longest, and most prestigious format of the sport. This means played over up to five days between two national teams, with each side receiving two innings and ten wickets to be dismissed.
- Throwing Mechanics – FieldingIntermediateThrowing mechanics in cricket fielding refers to the technique for generating an accurate, powerful, low-trajectory throw from the outfield or inner ring to the wicket-keeper or bowler's end stumps.
- Top HandIntermediateIn cricket batting, the top hand is the upper hand on the bat handle (for a right-hander, the left hand) and controls straight-bat strokes. This means a strong top hand keeps the bat face straight through the hitting zone.
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