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Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
227 terms
- Arm Ball (Finger Spinner's Straight One)IntermediateAn arm ball is a finger spinner's variation that does not turn and carries straight on with the bowler's arm. For a right-arm off-spinner it holds its line or drifts away from a right-hander. Batters playing for turn get beaten on the outside edge or trapped LBW.
- Attacking vs Defensive FieldsIntermediateAn attacking field puts fielders in catching positions close to the bat, such as slips, gully and short leg, to take wickets. A defensive field spreads fielders out, often on the boundary, to stop runs. Captains choose based on the match situation, the pitch and the batter.
- Back-and-Across Trigger MovementIntermediateA back-and-across trigger is a small step of the back foot backwards and towards off stump just before the bowler releases the ball. The front foot follows a short way. It lines your head up with off stump and helps you judge what to leave against pace. Finish it before release and keep the step small.
- 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.
- Backing Away to LegBeginnerBacking away to leg means moving away from the line of the ball, towards the leg side, as it is bowled. It is usually a fear response to pace or short bowling. It leaves you reaching for the ball with your weight going away. Well-fitted protective gear, gradual practice with softer balls and a plan for the short ball all help.
- BackliftBeginnerThe backlift is the upward movement of the bat before the batter plays a stroke — the height, direction, and angle of the backlift influence bat path and ultimately the direction of the shot.
- Backlift Direction (Straight vs Lateral Backlift)AdvancedLifting the bat towards the slips or gully is not automatically wrong. Many top batters take the bat up that way and loop it down straight. What matters is that the bat comes down through the line of the ball with the face pointing where you want to hit. Research has found this lateral pattern is common among international batters.
- Bat Speed in CricketAdvancedBat speed is how fast the bat is moving as it reaches the ball. In cricket there is no single published standard for a "good" bat speed. Readings vary with the sensor, where it is mounted and the shot played. Compare your own numbers over time on the same device.
- Bat Weight and PickupIntermediateBat weight is what the bat weighs on the scales. Pickup is how heavy it feels when you lift it in your stance. It depends on how the weight is spread along the bat. Choose a bat you can swing freely and control. A simple check is holding it out at arm's length with your top hand.
- Batting Against the New BallIntermediateThe new ball is hard and shiny with a raised seam. It swings, seams and bounces most. Against it, know your off stump, leave well, play late with soft hands and score mostly from balls on your pads or short and wide. Once the shine and hardness fade, batting usually gets easier.
- Batting AverageBeginnerA cricket batting average is total runs divided by the number of times the batter was out. Not-out innings add runs but do not add a dismissal. So 300 runs in 10 innings, with 2 not outs, is an average of 37.5.
- Batting Deep in the CreaseIntermediateBat deep in the crease when you want more time against short, fast bowling or more room to play spin off the back foot. Standing back gives the ball longer to travel before it reaches you. The risks are LBW to full balls and treading on your own stumps.
- Batting IntentIntermediateBatting intent means looking to score off every ball you can, instead of waiting for the bowler to make a mistake. It shows in your footwork, your trigger and your readiness to run. Intent is not the same as slogging. A clear leave or a firm defensive shot can still show intent.
- Batting on Different PitchesIntermediateRead the pitch before you bat and change your game to suit it. On a green, grassy pitch, leave more and play late. On a dry, turning pitch, use your feet and the sweep against spin. On a slow, low pitch, play straight and avoid cross-bat shots. On a bouncy pitch, judge length early and leave balls rising over the stumps.
- Batting Order and Batting RolesBeginnerThe batting order is the sequence in which a team's batters come in. Openers face the new ball, the number 3 steadies or attacks, the middle order builds and finishes, and the lower order adds late runs. In limited-overs cricket, teams also name roles such as anchor, finisher and floater.
- Batting Out of the CreaseIntermediateBatting out of the crease means taking your stance a step or more in front of the popping crease. It lets you meet swing and seam before the ball moves as far. It also changes the length a spinner must bowl. The costs are a stumping risk when the keeper stands up, plus less time against short balls.
- Batting Pads, Gloves and Protective GearBeginnerTo bat against a hard ball you need a helmet, batting pads, batting gloves and a box (abdominal guard). Most batters add a thigh pad. An arm guard, chest guard and inner thigh pad give extra protection against pace. Make sure every piece fits and lets you move freely.
- Batting PartnershipsBeginnerPartnerships are important because a team scores runs in pairs and loses its innings one wicket at a time. A long partnership tires bowlers, pushes captains into defensive fields and makes scoring easier for both batters. A team that keeps losing quick wickets never builds that pressure.
- Batting Shoes and SpikesBeginnerYou do not always need spikes for batting, but they help on grass. They stop your feet slipping when you push off to run or step into a shot. Many batters wear half-spikes or rubber-studded shoes. Rubber soles suit artificial pitches, indoor nets and hard, dry ground.
- Batting Strike RateBeginnerA batter's strike rate is the runs they score per 100 balls faced. Divide runs by balls faced and multiply by 100. Scoring 45 off 30 balls is a strike rate of 150. Balls faced include no balls but not wides.
- BazballBeginnerBazball is the nickname for the highly aggressive style of Test cricket England's men's team has played under head coach Brendon McCullum. The name comes from McCullum's nickname, Baz. Collins Dictionary defines it as a style of Test cricket in which the batting side plays in a highly aggressive manner.
- Bottom HandIntermediateIn cricket batting, the bottom hand is the lower hand on the bat handle, the right hand for a right-hander. It controls cross-bat power and direction; too dominant, it closes the bat face.
- BouncerIntermediateA bouncer is a fast, short-pitched delivery that rears up toward the batter's head or chest. It is used to intimidate, disrupt balance, and set up the fuller ball.
- Boundary (Four and Six)BeginnerA boundary is scored when the ball reaches or crosses the edge of the playing area. If the batter hits the ball and it lands beyond the boundary without touching the ground first, it is six runs. If it bounces or rolls over first, or reaches it without being hit by the bat, it is four. A ball that touches the rope, or a fielder who is touching the ground beyond it, counts as reaching the boundary.
- Boundary Percentage and Balls per BoundaryIntermediateBoundary percentage usually means the share of a batter's runs that came from fours and sixes. Balls per boundary is balls faced divided by boundaries hit, so a lower number means boundaries come more often. Some data sites use boundary percentage for the share of balls that went for four or six, so check which one you are reading.
- BowledBeginnerBowled is a dismissal where the ball, delivered by the bowler, hits the stumps and dislodges at least one bail. It still counts as bowled if the ball first touches the batter's bat or body on the way to the stumps (Law 32.1.1).
- Bowled Through the GateIntermediateBeing bowled through the gate means the ball passes through the gap between your bat and front pad and hits the stumps. It usually comes from a stride wide of the line, a bat coming down across the pad or reaching for the ball. Keep your bat close to your front pad and let the ball come to you.
- Bowling Action Types (Side-On, Front-On, Mixed)IntermediatePace bowling actions are grouped by how the body lines up when the back foot lands. In a side-on action the back foot is roughly parallel to the crease and the front shoulder points at the batter. In a front-on action the back foot points down the pitch and the chest faces the batter more, while a semi-open action sits in between. A mixed action starts front-on and twists the shoulders back toward side-on, and studies link it with more lower-back stress injuries.
- Bowling Machine PracticeIntermediateA bowling machine is good for repeating one length, line or pace until a shot is grooved. Its big weakness is timing. There is no bowler's action to pick up, so batters can learn to time the feeder's hand instead. Use it alongside live bowling, at a pace you control, with full protection.
- Building an InningsIntermediateBuild an innings in stages. Spend your first balls getting used to the pace and bounce, scoring mainly from singles and bad balls. Once you are set, widen your scoring shots and push the rate. After a milestone, reset and start again instead of relaxing.
- Byes and Leg ByesBeginnerByes are runs the batters take when the ball misses both the bat and the batter's body, usually because it also beats the keeper. Leg byes are runs taken after the ball hits the batter's body but not the bat. The umpire allows leg byes only if the batter tried to play the ball with the bat or tried to get out of its way. Both are extras: they count for the team but not for the batter, and they are not charged to the bowler.
- Calling Between the WicketsBeginnerMany coaches teach that the striker calls for balls hit in front of the wicket and the non-striker calls for balls behind square, where the striker cannot see. Use three clear words: "yes", "no" and "wait". It is a coaching convention, not a Law. Agree it with your partner before you bat.
- Carrom BallAdvancedA carrom ball is a spin delivery flicked out between the thumb and a bent middle finger, like flicking a striker in the board game carrom. From a right-arm finger spinner, it usually turns away from a right-handed batter or goes straight on. To pick it, watch for the fingers flicking out sideways at release.
- Catching PositionBeginnerA catching position in cricket is the stance and body alignment a fielder adopts while waiting for a possible catch — soft knees, hands in front, eyes on the ball — to maximise reaction time and secure the catch.
- CaughtBeginnerCaught is a way of being out in cricket. The batter is out when a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground, after it has come off the bat or a glove on the hand holding the bat (Laws 33.1 and 5.6).
- Caught Bat-Pad Against SpinIntermediateYou get caught bat-pad when the ball hits the bat and pad together and pops up to a close fielder, usually short leg or silly point. It mostly happens against spin when you push forward with hard hands. Another cause is the bat sitting ahead of the pad. Play with soft hands and keep the bat beside or just behind the pad.
- Centre-Wicket Practice (Middle Practice)IntermediateCentre-wicket practice is training on a real pitch in the middle of the ground, with fielders, instead of in the nets. Batters have to run, find gaps and face a set field. Coaches usually add a match scenario, such as 30 runs needed off 4 overs, to bring real pressure.
- CenturyBeginnerA century is a batting milestone of 100 or more runs scored by a single batter in one innings — the most celebrated individual achievement in cricket batting.
- Chin MusicIntermediateChin music is a fast bowler sending down a run of bouncers aimed around the batter's head and chest to intimidate them. The aim is to unsettle the batter, force a mistimed hook or pull, or push them back so a full ball can get them out. Umpires can step in if the short bowling becomes dangerous.
- Choosing a Cricket BatBeginnerChoose a cricket bat by size first, then weight and pickup, then willow and profile. Size goes by your height, using the maker's chart. The bat should feel light and balanced in your stance, not just light on the scales. English willow suits hard-ball cricket. Kashmir willow suits beginners and soft-ball play.
- Clearing the Front Leg (Making Room)IntermediateClearing the front leg means moving your front foot out of the way, usually towards the leg side, to let your arms swing freely through the ball. Making room means stepping away from the line of a ball on the stumps to hit it through the off side. Both create space for a full swing. Both also leave more of your stumps exposed.
- Cloud Cover, Humidity and Dew in CricketIntermediateMany players believe cloud cover makes the ball swing more, and captains often bowl first under grey skies. Science has not confirmed it. Lab studies find humidity has no measurable effect on swing, and cloud cover does not change the air flow directly. Dew is a different matter: it makes the ball wet and hard to grip.
- Common Batting Injuries and PreventionBeginnerCommon batting injuries include blows to the hands, fingers and thighs, blows to the head, hamstring strains while running between the wickets, and lower back soreness. Wear protective kit that fits, warm up before you bat and build running fitness. Stop if something hurts, and see a qualified medical professional about pain that persists.
- Concentration in a Long InningsIntermediateNobody can concentrate hard for hours, so good batters switch on and off. Relax between balls by looking away and walking towards square leg. Switch on fully as the bowler runs in, with one simple cue like 'watch the ball'. Break the innings into small targets such as the next five overs.
- Concussion After a Blow to the HeadBeginnerIf a batter is hit on the head or helmet and might be concussed, they should stop playing straight away. If in doubt, sit them out. They should be assessed by a healthcare professional within 24 hours. Under ECB recreational guidelines, there is no return to competitive cricket for at least 21 days after a confirmed concussion. Severe warning signs, such as repeated vomiting or worsening drowsiness, need emergency care.
- Concussion Substitutes (Concussion Replacements)IntermediateIn international cricket, a concussion substitute is a like-for-like player who replaces a concussed player for the rest of the match. The team doctor must confirm a concussion or suspected concussion from a head or neck injury during play. The match referee must then approve the request.
- Corridor of UncertaintyIntermediateThe corridor of uncertainty is a narrow line just outside off stump where a batter is unsure whether to play or leave. It is about line, not length. Bowlers aim there to find the edge. Batters handle it by knowing their off stump and playing late with soft hands.
- Cover DriveIntermediateThe cover drive is an elegant front-foot stroke that sends a full ball outside off stump through cover, between point and mid-off.
- Cow Corner and the SlogBeginnerCow corner is the deep part of the field between deep midwicket and long-on. For a right-hander it sits on the leg side. Batters hit there with a slog: a big, cross-bat swing across the line of the ball. Captains often leave it empty, so a slog there can bring easy boundaries.
- CreaseBeginnerThe crease is any of the white painted lines on the cricket pitch. These lines define legal bowling positions, the safe zone for batters, and the starting point for LBW and run-out adjudications.
- Cricket Ball Types: Red, White, Pink and BrandsBeginnerDukes and Kookaburra are two makers of leather cricket balls, and both must meet the same Law 4 size and weight limits. The difference is the maker, not the rules. In Tests each home board picks the brand. Dukes supplies all Tests in England, Ireland and the West Indies.
- Cricket Bat Handle Shapes and Grips (Oval vs Round)IntermediateAn oval handle suits batters who lead with the top hand, while a round handle suits bottom-hand players. Bat makers describe oval as giving control for top-hand shots. They say a round handle lets the bottom hand take over, which can make playing straight harder. Semi-oval sits in between.
- Cricket Bat Rules (Law 5 Size Limits and Bat Gauge)IntermediateA cricket bat's blade can be no wider than 10.8 cm, no deeper than 6.7 cm and its edges no thicker than 4.0 cm, under Law 5.7. The whole bat can be no longer than 96.52 cm. It must also pass through a bat gauge. Above size 6, the handle can be at most 52% of the length.
- Cricket Bat SizesBeginnerCricket bat size is chosen by height, not age. Junior bats run from size 0 to size 6, then Harrow, and adult bats come in sizes such as short handle and long handle. A 10-year-old usually needs a size 3 or 4, depending on height. In your stance, the top of the handle should line up with the inner groin of your front leg.
- Cricket Batting StanceBeginnerA good cricket batting stance is balanced and still, with your feet about shoulder-width apart, usually either side of the popping crease. Bend your knees slightly and keep your weight on the balls of your feet. Hold your head still, with your eyes level and looking down the pitch. Side-on, open and raised-bat stances all work if you are balanced at release.
- Cricket Helmet and Neck GuardBeginnerA cricket helmet with a faceguard or grille protects the head and face from the ball. A neck guard, or stem guard, attaches to the back of the helmet to protect the upper neck. Rules vary by country and level. In England and Wales, under-18s must wear a helmet with a faceguard or grille when batting against a hard ball.
- Dead Ball in CricketBeginnerA dead ball in cricket is a ball that is no longer in play. As a result, no runs can be scored and nobody can be out from it. It usually becomes dead once it is finally settled with a fielder or the bowler. It is also dead when a boundary is scored or a batter is dismissed. Umpires can also call dead ball.
- Death OversBeginnerThe death overs are the final overs of a limited-overs innings, usually overs 17–20 in T20 or 41–50 in one-day cricket. Batters chase runs and bowlers try to limit them.
- Death-Overs BowlingAdvancedDeath-overs bowling is the skill of bowling the final overs of a limited-overs innings. The batting team is trying to hit every ball for a boundary.
- DeclarationBeginnerA declaration is when the batting captain ends their side's innings before the team is all out. In two-innings matches it is used to leave enough time to bowl the opposition out and win. Under the current Laws a captain can declare whenever the ball is dead, except in the final innings of the match. A declared innings counts as a completed innings.
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