Cricket Terminology

Aggregate
Refers to the total number of runs made, catches taken or dismissals completed by a player during a season or career.

Agricultural Shot
A batting stroke which is anything other than standard or copybook.

All Rounder
Refers to a player who is good at both batting and bowling.

Appeal
A plea made to the umpire by the fielding side when they believe a decision is needed to clarify whether a batsman has been dismissed.

Arm
Used to describe the accuracy and strength of a fielder who is very good at returning a ball from the outfield. IE: The player may be described as having a good "arm".

Arm Ball
A ball delivered by a spin bowler which swings in the direction of the follow through delivery arm.

Armguard
Protective padding located on the batsmans front forearm.

Artificial Pitch
A pitch with a surface made from concrete, covered with matting or constructed from synthetic turf. Regulation pitches are produced from rolled turf.

Ashes
A small wooden urn containing the ashes of a burnt bail from the 1882 Australia v England test series. The urn is representative of the "death" of cricket, said to have occurred as a result of an Australian victory in the 1882 match. The Ashes, have since become a prized trophy contested every 2 years in the Ashes series played between Australia and England.

Attack
Refers to the variety of available bowlers at the disposal of the fielding captain.

Average
The total figure reached by computation of a batsmans run scoring performance measured against the number of deliveries faced or a bowlers performance measure against the number of runs conceded as compared to the number of wickets taken.

Away Swinger
Also known as the out swinger. A ball moving from the line of the stumps at the bowlers end, towards the slips area.

Back Foot
Refers to the movement of the batsman who has placed his cetre of gravity onto the back foot. Usually occurring as a result of a rising delivery. Generally a defensive batting technique, but occassionaly used to attack the ball.

Back Up
Refers to the batsman at the bowling end who leaves his crease after the bowler has released the ball in preparation for making a run.

Baggy Green
The name given to the Cap worn by the Australian players. It refers to the baggy, oversized appearance of the cap, the colour of which is dark green.

Bails
The two small pieces of moulded timber which sit atop the stumps.

Ball
Consisting of a leather case with a cork interior generally bound with fine cord.

Bat
The implement used by the batsman to strike the ball and defend his wicket. Generally manufactured from timber, with a preference given by bat makers to Willow.

Bat-Pad
Refers to a close in fieldsman who is waiting for a ball that after striking the bat, comes off the pad and rises into the air.

Batsman
A player who uses a bat to hit, edge, snick or guide the ball after it has been bowled, usually for the purpose of scoring runs during a match or game, but often also to practice the art and skills of batting.

Batsman's Paradise
Refers to a pitch that will clearly favour the batting side.

Batting
The process of using the bat for the making of runs or defending the wicket.

Batting Crease
Also known as the Popping crease, this term refers to the line located 48 inches in front of the stumps and denotes the batsman's safe ground. If a batsman is within his batting crease, he cannot be stumped or run out. See Diagram

Beamer
A bowling delivery aimed at the head of the batsman.

Beaten
When a batsman attempts to strike the ball with the bat and fails to contact it. He is said to have been "beaten" by either the pace or skill of the delivery.

Bite
The amount of turn a spin bowler can obtain from the surface of the pitch.

Block
The position taken by the batsman when waiting for a ball to be bowled. Can also be used to describe a defensive batting stroke.

Bouncer
A bowling delivery of fast pace and pitched short with the purpose of rising to around chest height when arriving at the batsman.

Boundary
Denotes the outer limit of the playing area. Also used to describe a stroke by the batsman which immediately results in 4 runs.

Bowl
To deliver the ball in a manner determined to be legal by the umpire.

Bowler
Refers to a player who primarily excels at delivering a ball to a batsman or a player in the process of delivering the ball.

Bowling Crease
Refers to the line which runs directly through the area at the base of the stumps and for 48 inches either side and bounded by the return crease. See Diagram

Bowling Machine
A mechanical device used to deliver the ball to a batsman. Can only be used during practice or training drills.

Box
The protective device worn by male players to protect the genitals. See Picture

Break
A delivery that spins to either side of the pitch after leaving the surface.

Bump Ball
A ball that canons into the ground immediately after leaving the bat and to the appearance of fieldsmen and spectators looks to have come directly off the bat.

Bye
A run generally scored through any means other than being struck by the bat.

Call
Either a confirmation or refusal that a run should be taken by a batsman in order to alert his partner. Usually shouted as a "Yes" "No" or "Wait"

Cap
The peaked head dress normally worn by a team member and showing the colours and or team logo.

Caught Behind
A ball caught by the wicketkeeper after being struck by the batsman.

Cherry
Refers to a new ball because of its bright red cherry coloured appearance.

Chinaman
A delivery by a left arm spinner which to a right hand batsman appears as if it will spin from off to leg, however, spins in the opposite direction. Devised by a West Indian player of Chinese descent.

Chucker
A bowler who the umpire has determined, not to have delivered the ball in a legal manner.

Clean Bowled
When a batsman is beaten by a ball and subsequently dismissed through the stumps being broken.

Close
Refers to a declaration by the batting team of a closure to an innings or the end of the days play.

Cover Drive
An attacking batting stroke directed towards the covers area or the protective covering placed over the pitch during adverse weather conditions.

Crumble
Refers to the state of the pitch, usually late in a game after experiencing considerable wear. A crumbling pitch is often favoured by a spin bowler, as it will allow the ball more bite and turn.

Cut
In batting, refers to a stroke played to the off side between the covers area and the wicketkeeper. In bowling, refers to the deviation of a delivery, caused by the bowler imparting varying types of spin on the ball. These type of deliveries are referred to as "cutters" either leg cutter or off cutter.