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Cricket Glossary
Learn the language of Cricket — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
98 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.
- 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 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 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- Direct Hit Run-OutIntermediateA direct hit run-out is when a fielder's throw hits the stumps directly, not relayed through the wicket-keeper. It dismisses a batter who is short of their crease.
- Diving StopIntermediateA diving stop is a fielding technique where the player launches themselves horizontally through the air to stop a ball that is beyond their standing reach, often preventing a certain boundary.
- DLS Method (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern)IntermediateThe Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method sets a fair revised target when rain shortens a limited-overs match. It treats each side's batting as two resources: overs left and wickets in hand. If the team batting second has fewer resources, its target drops in proportion. If it has more, the target rises.
- Dot Ball PercentageIntermediateA dot ball is a delivery a batter scores no runs from, shown as a dot in the scorebook. Dot ball percentage is dot balls divided by balls faced, times 100. A high figure means you are getting stuck, and cutting dots is often the easiest way to lift your strike rate.
- Driving on the UpIntermediateDriving on the up means driving a ball while it is still rising after the bounce. It is usually a good-length ball that you cannot reach as a half-volley. Keep your head still and over the ball, move your front foot towards its line and present a full, straight face. Punch through with a short, firm finish to keep the ball on the ground.
- Drop and Run (Soft-Hands Single)IntermediateTo drop the ball and run, play a defensive shot with very soft hands so the ball dies a few metres in front of you. Call early and set off as soon as it lands. The fielders have to run in to it. That gives you time to steal a quick single.
- English Willow GradesIntermediateEnglish willow grades describe how the wood in a bat's blade looks, mainly its grain, colour and marks. Higher grades have straighter, more even grain and fewer blemishes. Lower grades show more coloured wood, knots or specks. Each maker uses its own scale. Compare bats by feel and pickup as well as grade.
- Facing Left-Arm Pace (Over and Round the Wicket)IntermediateA left-arm fast bowler bowling over the wicket angles the ball across a right-handed batter, from the leg side towards the slips. The danger ball is the one that swings or seams back in after that angle. Know your off stump, avoid planting your front foot across the line and play straight back down the ground.
- Falling Over to the Off Side (LBW Trap)IntermediateYou fall over and get LBW when your head and weight drift towards the off side as you play. Your front pad ends up across the stumps and the bat has to come round it. Balls swinging or seaming back in then hit the pad in line. Keep your head still and over your front knee.
- Farming the Strike (Batting With the Tail)IntermediateTo farm the strike with tailenders, try to face most of the balls yourself. Take boundaries or twos early in the over. Look for a single off the last ball or two so you keep the strike for the next over. That shields the weaker batter from the bowling.
- Fast Bowling Workload and Back Stress FracturesIntermediateFast bowlers get stress fractures because every delivery puts a big load through the lower back while it bends and twists. Bowling too many overs in a short spell of days, or returning after a break too quickly, can crack bone faster than it heals. Young bowlers, especially in a growth spurt, are at the highest risk.
- Finding Gaps in the FieldIntermediateTo find gaps, look at the field before every ball and pick the space you will aim for. Then use the angle of the bat face and soft or firm hands to place the ball there. Hit along the ground into the space between fielders and run hard for the single.
- Fitness for BattingIntermediateBatting fitness means rotational power from the hips and trunk, strong legs for long strides and low positions, and a firm grip. It also means repeated sprints between the wickets and the stamina to keep going through a long innings. Medicine-ball throws, lunges, carries and short shuttle runs with turns all help.
- FlickIntermediateThe flick is an attacking wrist stroke played to a full ball on the leg side. This uses a strong wrist roll to whip the ball to the mid-wicket or square-leg area.
- Forward Press Trigger MovementIntermediateA forward press is a small step or weight shift onto the front foot just before the bowler releases the ball. It gets you moving and into line early, especially against spin and on slow pitches. Keep it small so you can still rock back to a short ball.
- Front Shoulder Opening EarlyIntermediateWhen your front shoulder opens early, your chest turns towards the bowler before contact. The bat then comes across the line, and drives get sliced, edged or dragged. It often comes from the head falling away or reaching for the ball. Lead with the front shoulder pointing at the ball and keep it there until after contact.
- Getting Out of a Batting SlumpIntermediateTo get out of a batting slump, first look at how you have been getting out. A repeated dismissal points to one technical fix. A mix of good balls and bad luck often just needs patience. Go back to basics, bat for time in the nets and judge yourself on balls faced, not runs, until confidence returns.
- GlanceIntermediateThe glance (or leg glance) is a wristy deflection played to a ball on the leg side, angling the bat face to direct the ball fine to leg without force.
- Holding the Bat Raised (Bat Up at Address)IntermediateSome batters stand with the bat already raised so they do not have to lift it as the ball is bowled. The bat starts near the top of the backlift. That leaves less to do in the short time against fast bowling. It can also cut out a late, jerky pickup and keep the head still.
- Hook ShotIntermediateThe hook shot is an attacking batting stroke played to a short-pitched, rising ball aimed at the body or head — the batter pivots and whips the ball to the leg side, often in front of square.
- Illegal Bowling Action (Chucking and the 15-Degree Rule)IntermediateThe 15-degree rule is the ICC's limit on elbow straightening for international bowlers. A bowler's elbow may not extend more than 15 degrees from the moment the bowling arm reaches horizontal until the ball is released. The MCC Laws word it differently: the elbow must not straighten once the arm reaches shoulder height.
- In-SwingIntermediateIn-swing is conventional swing bowling where the ball curves in the air from off to leg (in towards the body of a right-handed batter), often targeting the stumps or pads.
- JudgmentIntermediateJudgment in cricket batting is the ability to quickly decide which deliveries to play and which to leave, choosing the right shot for each ball bowled.
- Left-Arm Orthodox SpinIntermediateLeft-arm orthodox spin is finger spin from a left-arm bowler. The stock ball turns from leg to off, away from a right-handed batter and into a left-hander. To play it as a right-hander, cover off stump, play with the turn through the off side and watch for the arm ball that goes straight on.
- Leg-SpinIntermediateLeg-spin is spin bowling where a right-arm bowler spins the ball from leg to off: away from a right-handed batter, or left to right as that batter sees it. The bowler's wrist rotation provides the spin.
- Lofted DriveIntermediateA lofted drive lifts the ball over the fielders instead of along the ground. Get close to the pitch of the ball, keep your head still and swing through the line with a full face and a high finish. Choose a full ball and check the field first. Decide whether you only need to clear the infield or go all the way.
- Making Net Practice CountIntermediateGo into every net with one or two clear goals, such as leaving well outside off stump or rotating the strike against spin. Bat in match scenarios with a target and count your dismissals honestly. A short, focused net with some pressure helps more on match day than a long, aimless hit.
- Nervous NinetiesIntermediateThe nervous nineties is the stage of an innings when a batter's score is between 90 and 99. Batters often tense up as a century gets close. Some freeze and stop scoring, while others rush with a risky shot. The fix is to keep playing the ball in front of you, not the milestone.
- Net Run Rate (NRR)IntermediateNet run rate is your team's runs per over across a competition minus the runs per over scored against you. If you are bowled out early, you count as having used your full quota of overs. ICC events use it to split teams level on points and wins.
- New Batter on Strike After a CatchIntermediateWhen the striker is caught, the not-out batter goes back to their original end (Law 18.11). It makes no difference if the batters crossed while the ball was in the air. So the new batter faces the next ball, unless the catch was the last ball of the over.
- Nicking Off (Edging Behind)IntermediateNicking off is edging a ball outside off stump to the wicket-keeper or slips. It usually comes from playing at balls you could leave, pushing at the ball with hard hands or reaching away from your body. Know your off stump, play late under your eyes with soft hands and leave anything you do not need to play.
- Obstructing the FieldIntermediateEither batter is out obstructing the field (Law 37) for wilfully obstructing or distracting the fielders by word or action. It includes striking the ball with a hand not holding the bat. That used to be a separate dismissal called 'handled the ball'. It also covers handing the ball back to a fielder without their consent. Accidental contact, or moving to avoid injury, is not out.
- On DriveIntermediateThe on drive is a classical front-foot attacking stroke played to a full ball on middle or leg stump. It sends the ball through the mid-on region on the leg side.
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