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Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
25 terms
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- DoosraAdvancedThe doosra is an off-spinner's variation that turns the opposite way to the stock off-break, away from a right-handed batter. To pick it, watch the bowler's hand at release. The back of the hand usually faces the batter more than for the off-break. If you cannot read it in the air, play late and watch it off the pitch.
- False Shot and Control PercentageAdvancedControl percentage is the share of balls on which a batter is judged to be in control of their shot. The test is whether the ball went where the batter meant it to. A false shot is a ball the batter does not control, such as an edge or a play and miss. False shot percentage is the share of balls where that happens.
- Flipper (Leg-Spinner's Skidder)AdvancedA flipper is a leg-spinner's variation squeezed out with backspin, so it stays low and skids through quicker than expected. It is usually a little shorter. Batters go back to cut or pull it, then get beaten by the low skid and bowled or trapped LBW.
- Front-Foot PullAdvancedA front-foot pull is a pull shot played after your front foot has already moved forward. It is used against a ball short of a length that is not quick, often on slower pitches or against medium pace and spin. Clear your front leg towards the leg side, turn your hips and swing through with your weight still forward.
- 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.
- GooglyAdvancedA googly is a leg-spinner's wrist-spin delivery that turns the opposite way to the stock ball, toward a right-hander. An identical action disguises it.
- Helicopter ShotAdvancedThe helicopter shot is a power stroke to a full ball or yorker, usually hit through or over the leg side. The bat swings hard through the ball with a strong flick of the bottom hand. It finishes with a big circular follow-through above the head, like a helicopter's blades.
- Inside-Out ShotAdvancedAn inside-out shot hits a ball on the stumps or leg side through the off side, usually over or through extra cover. Move inside the line by stepping towards the leg side, then swing out towards the off side with an open face. It is a common way to score against spin turning into you.
- Knuckle Ball (Cricket Slower Ball)AdvancedIn cricket, a knuckle ball is a pace bowler's slower ball gripped with the fingers bent so the knuckles or fingertips sit behind the ball. It comes out with little spin and a wobbling seam. The ball floats, dips and arrives later than the batter expects. Pick it from the hand and keep your shape until it arrives.
- 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.
- Left-Arm Wrist SpinAdvancedLeft-arm wrist spin is bowled with the left arm, spinning the ball out of the back of the hand like a leg-spinner. Its stock ball turns from off to leg, into a right-handed batter. Its googly turns away. It used to be called "chinaman". Wisden dropped that term in 2018, and many in the game now avoid it.
- 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.
- 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 finger-spin bowling that turns the ball from off to leg, toward a right-handed batter. It uses the fingers, not the wrist, and its stock delivery is the off-break.
- Ramp and Scoop ShotsAdvancedA ramp or scoop deflects the ball over the wicket-keeper or the fine fielders, using the bowler's pace. Set up early and get low, open the bat face and get under the ball so it rises over your shoulder. Always wear a helmet with a faceguard. A miss or a top edge can hit the face.
- Reverse SweepAdvancedThe reverse sweep is an attacking stroke where the batter kneels on the front knee and sweeps the ball to the off side. It is the mirror image of the conventional sweep.
- 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.
- Sweep ShotAdvancedThe sweep is a cross-bat shot played on one knee to a good-length ball, usually from a spinner. It sweeps the ball around to the leg side to counter turn and length.
- Swing BowlingAdvancedSwing bowling makes a fast-bowled ball curve sideways in the air, toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). The angled seam, helped by keeping one side shiny, makes the air flow differently over the two sides of the ball.
- Switch HitAdvancedA switch hit is when a right-handed batter swaps to a left-handed stance and grip as the bowler runs in, or a left-hander swaps to right. The batter then hits the ball as a batter of the other hand. The Laws of Cricket do not ban it. MCC said in 2008 that the stroke conforms to the Laws.
- Upper CutAdvancedThe upper cut is an attacking stroke played to a short, wide, high ball outside off stump. It sends the ball over the slips or gully area for four or six.
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