Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
13 terms
- BouncerIntermediateA bouncer is a fast, short-pitched delivery that rears up toward the batter’s head or chest, used to intimidate and to set up the fuller ball.
- 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.
- DriveBeginnerIn cricket, a drive is an attacking stroke played with a straight, full swing of the bat to a full-length ball, sending it along the ground in front of the wicket. (This differs entirely from a golf drive off the tee.)
- 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.
- GooglyAdvancedA googly is a deceptive wrist-spin delivery from a leg-spinner that turns the opposite way to the stock ball — toward a right-handed batter instead of away — disguised by an identical action.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket)BeginnerLBW is a way of being out: if the ball would have hit the stumps but the batter’s pad (leg) intercepts it first — under specific conditions — the umpire can rule them leg before wicket.
- Off-SpinAdvancedOff-spin is a style of finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from the off side into a right-handed batter (right to left), the stock delivery being the off-break.
- 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.
- 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 — the safest, most orthodox technique for defending and driving balls of a full or good length.
- 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 — toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing) — by using the seam angle and the ball’s shine.
- YorkerIntermediateA yorker is a delivery bowled to pitch right at the batter’s feet, under the swinging bat — one of the hardest balls to score off and a key death-overs weapon.
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