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Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
104 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.
- 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Dolly (An Easy Catch)BeginnerA dolly is a very easy catch, often a gentle lob that floats straight to a fielder. Batters give one away with a mistimed shot. Dropping a dolly is one of the most painful moments in cricket, so fielders must still watch the ball all the way into their hands.
- DriveBeginnerIn cricket, a drive is an attacking stroke that sends a full-length ball along the ground in front of the wicket. It uses a straight, full swing of the bat and is unlike a golf drive.
- DRS (Decision Review System)BeginnerDRS lets players ask the third umpire to review an on-field decision on whether a batter is out. Only the batter given out can review an out, and only the fielding captain can review a not out. The request is a 'T' sign within 15 seconds. DRS comes from ICC playing conditions, not the Laws of Cricket.
- Edges: Inside, Outside, Thick and LeadingBeginnerAn edge is when the ball hits the side of the bat instead of the face. An outside edge flies towards the keeper and slips. An inside edge deflects towards your pad, stumps or fine leg. A thick edge takes a lot of the edge and a thin or feather edge barely touches it. A leading edge balloons up off the front edge.
- Fear of Getting Hit by the BallBeginnerBeing scared of a hard cricket ball is normal. Confidence comes from kit that fits and step-by-step practice that raises the pace slowly. It also comes from learning to watch the ball and get out of its way safely. After a blow, especially to the head, stop and get checked before batting again.
- Filming Your BattingBeginnerFilm your batting from two angles: side-on, square of the wicket, and front-on, from behind the bowler or behind you. Keep the camera still at about hip height, with your whole body, bat and stumps in frame. Film several balls of the same type, and stand behind the netting, never in the line of the ball.
- First-Class and List A CricketBeginnerFirst-class cricket is a match of two innings per side, scheduled for three or more days, between two teams of eleven on natural turf. Tests are the top level of first-class cricket. List A is the one-day version: one innings per side, with at least 40 overs each, at state, county or provincial level or above.
- Follow-OnBeginnerThe follow-on lets the side that batted first make its opponents bat again straight away when it leads by enough on first innings. The lead needed is at least 200 runs in a match of five days or more, 150 in a three- or four-day match, 100 in a two-day match and 75 in a one-day, two-innings match. Enforcing it is the leading captain's choice, not a requirement.
- FootworkBeginnerFootwork in cricket batting is moving the feet into the best position to play each delivery. Moving quickly and correctly to the pitch of the ball is the basis of all good batting.
- Free HitBeginnerA free hit is the delivery after a no ball in one-day and T20 international cricket. On a free hit the batter can only be out run out, hit the ball twice or obstructing the field. As a result, they cannot be bowled, caught, LBW or stumped. The fielding side may not change the field unless the batter on strike changes. If the free hit is itself a wide or no ball, the next ball is also a free hit.
- 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. Under Law 41.7, any full toss that passes above the batter's waist height is a no-ball. These high full tosses are often called beamers.
- Golden DuckBeginnerA golden duck is when a batter is dismissed for zero runs on the very first ball they face in an innings — 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 — often the most testing length a bowler can hit.
- 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.
- Half-Century (Fifty)BeginnerA half-century, or fifty, is an individual score of 50 to 99 runs in one innings. Batters usually raise their bat to the crowd and dressing room when they reach it. Once a batter gets to 100, the score counts as a century instead.
- Hand Position on the Bat HandleBeginnerFor most shots, hold the bat with both hands close together, usually in the upper half of the handle. The V shapes between thumb and first finger line up between the splice and the outside edge. Sliding the hands lower gives more control. Holding higher gives more reach and a bigger swing.
- Head PositionBeginnerHead position in batting refers to where and how still the batter's head is during the stroke — keeping the head level, forward-leaning, and over the ball is a universal marker of quality technique.
- Heat, Hydration and Sun Protection in CricketBeginnerTo stay hydrated in a long innings, drink water before, during and after play, and use every drinks break. Wear a hat or helmet, long sleeves and sunscreen. In hot weather, organisers may add extra drinks breaks. Tell someone at once if you feel dizzy, cramp up or feel unusually tired.
- Hit the Ball TwiceBeginnerYou can hit the ball a second time only to stop it hitting your stumps. If you strike it again on purpose for any other reason, before a fielder touches it. You are out hit the ball twice under Law 34. Even when the second hit is allowed, no runs can be scored from it.
- Hit WicketBeginnerA batter is out hit wicket if they break their own stumps with their bat or body while preparing to play, or playing, the ball. It also applies when they knock the stumps while regaining balance after the shot, or while setting off for their first run. You cannot be out hit wicket off a no ball, but you can be off a wide.
- How to Score a Cricket Match (Scorebook Basics)BeginnerTo score a cricket match, record every ball in three places: the batter's line, the bowler's analysis and the team total. Use a dot for no runs, a number for runs off the bat, and symbols for wides, no-balls, byes, leg byes and wickets. Acknowledge every umpire signal and check totals with the other scorer often.
- Inside Edge Past the Stumps (French Cut)BeginnerA Chinese cut, also called a French cut or Harrow drive, is an accidental inside edge that sneaks past the stumps. The batter aims a drive or cut through the off side. Instead, the ball clips the inside of the bat, misses the stumps and runs away towards fine leg.
- Jaffa (Unplayable Delivery)BeginnerA jaffa is an outstanding delivery that is almost impossible to play. It might swing late, seam sharply off the pitch or spin a long way and still hit the top of off stump. It usually comes from a fast bowler, but a spinner can bowl one too.
- Junior Cricket Kit: What a Child NeedsBeginnerFor introductory and soft-ball cricket a child needs little more than trainers, sports clothes, a sun hat and a water bottle. For hard-ball cricket they need a bat of the right size, a helmet with a grille, pads, batting gloves and a box. A thigh pad and neck guard are strongly advised. Many clubs lend kit to new juniors.
- Junior Cricket PathwayBeginnerIn England and Wales, young children usually start with All Stars Cricket (ages 5 to 8), then Dynamos Cricket (8 to 11). Junior club cricket for 11 to 16 offers soft-ball and hard-ball options. The age a child moves to a hard ball varies by club and region, and by how ready the child is.
- Junior Fast Bowling Limits (ECB Overs per Spell and Day)BeginnerIn England and Wales, a fast bowler aged 12 or 13 may bowl at most 5 overs per spell and 10 overs per day in hard-ball cricket. Bowlers aged 11 and under may bowl 4 overs per spell and 8 per day. The limits go by the bowler's age, not the age group of the match.
- Kashmir WillowBeginnerKashmir willow is willow grown in the Kashmir region and used for many entry-level and junior bats. It is naturally denser and more durable than English willow but lacks some of its 'ping'. It suits beginners, juniors and soft-ball cricket. English willow is the usual choice for regular hard-ball play.
- Knocking In a Cricket BatBeginnerKnocking in compresses the fibres in a new willow bat so it is less likely to crack against a hard ball. Tap the face and edges with a bat mallet or an old ball in a sock, starting gently and building up. Allow several hours. One major bat maker advises at least 4 to 6 hours.
- Laws of Cricket vs Playing Conditions (Who Makes the Rules)BeginnerMarylebone Cricket Club (MCC) writes the Laws of Cricket and is recognised as their sole authority. Leagues and governing bodies then add their own playing conditions on top. The ICC's playing conditions run international cricket, so Tests, ODIs and T20Is can differ from the Laws in places.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket)BeginnerLBW is a mode of dismissal. Under specific conditions, the umpire can rule the batter leg before wicket. That applies if the ball would have hit the stumps but the batter's pad intercepts it first.
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