Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
30 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Weight TransferBeginnerWeight transfer in batting is the movement of the batter's bodyweight from back foot to front foot (or vice versa) as the stroke is executed, generating power and setting up correct balance through impact.
- WicketBeginnerIn cricket, a wicket refers both to the set of three stumps and two bails at each end of the pitch, and to the act of dismissing a batter. This means "taking a wicket" means getting a batter out.
- WideBeginnerA wide is a delivery that passes outside the marked wide lines on the pitch. This means too far from the batter to be played normally. This means penalising the fielding team with one extra run and requiring the delivery to be re-bowled.
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Swing Free