Glossary

This glossary is split into three sections:
- General Vocabulary (A - Z)
- Batting Vocabulary (A - Z)
- Bowling Vocabulary (A - Z)

GENERAL VOCABULARY:

AGGREGATE Total number of runs scored, wickets taken or catches completed by a player in a given period, which may be of a season, or part of it, or his career to date.

ALL ROUNDER Phrase used mainly to describe a player who is capable at both batting and bowling; lately also ~applied to one who is outstanding at batting and wicket keeping. The term genuine all-rounder' is used to describe one assessed as being so good at each if his departments that he could gain selection in a team for either.

ARTIFICIAL PITCHES The wide variety of surfaces other than the traditional one of grass turf that can be used to make a cricket pitch. These vary from raw concrete through a whole range of mats either permanent or temporary that are laid on the concrete or other base. The most recent innovations provide for synthetic turf, a tufted green carpet that simulates grass most adequately and ~comes in varieties depending upon the amount of pace or spin required.

ASHES A small urn containing the ashes of a bail presented to the Hon Ivo Bligh by certain ladies at , Melbourne when he took the MCC team to Australia following Australia's first victory over England in England in 1882. No doubt, the ladies' gesture was prompted by the mock obituary that appeared in 1882 in the London newspaper The Sporting Times, lamenting the death of English cricket and saying that 'the body will be cremated and the Ashes taken to Australia'. The urn is on display in the museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in -London. It has become traditional for test series between Australia and =England to be played for the Ashes, but the urn doesn't leave its resting place even when Australia has been he victor.

ATTACK The bowling battery at a ~captain’s disposal, The word also refers to aggression in batting or field placings, ie an attacking batsman or it tacking field placing (men set in cIose-in catching positions),

AVERAGE The figure reached when computing a batsman’s performance in terms of runs scored per completed innings played or a bowler’s performance in terms of runs conceded per wicket taken. In each case achieved by dividing the former by the latter. Considered to be important yardsticks in measuring a player’s achievements over a season or his career

BAILS The two small pieces of turned moulded plastic that sit atop the three stumps to complete a wicket.

BALL Usually made of a leather casing with a bound cork interior, but in the case of lower grades of cricket and for practice purposes can be made of cork alone, cork coated with plastic, or solely synthetic materials.

BARRACK To shout out comments from the crowd, usually of a disparaging nature, aimed at the players or the umpires. Said to be more prevalent in Australian and Nest Indian crowds, but becoming more universal.

BAT The implement used by the batsman to defend or attack against the ball projected at his stumps by the bowler. The blade is made of willow and the handle, spliced in at the top, of cane strips layered with rubber, bound by twine, and covered with a rubber grip. The shape of the bat has undergone many changes over the years, and changes still are being rung by bat makers in an attempt to produce an eye-catching and more marketable product. Nowadays, bats are adorned by coloured decals in an attempt to make them readily identifiable from the boundary and on television.

BLACK CAPS Marketing name given to the New Zealand men's team.

BLOCK Sometimes used to describe the position in relation to the stumps taken by a batsman when he stands waiting for the bowler to deliver a ball. The most common word is 'guard'. Also used to define a purely defensive front- foot or back-foot straight bat stroke.

B0UNDARY The limit of the playing area. Also a term used for a 'four'.

BOWLING CREASE The line that runs through the stumps square to the wicket or pitch, extending four feet either side of the stumps and bounded by the 'return crease'.

BOWLING MACHINE A machine designed to project the ball at a batsman for practising. Stands on stilts to emulate the correct delivery >position and its speed, swing and spin can be varied.

B0X Name given to the shield used to protect the genitals.

CAP Peaked headgear worn by a cricketer, usually in the colours and bearing the badge of the team for which he is playing.

CAPTAIN The man elected or appointed to lead a team

CASTLE The wickets that the batsman is defending.

CLOSE To declare the innings closed with batsmen still intact. Also the end of a day's play, the close of play. CLOSE OF PLAY The pre-arranged time at which a day's play finishes. To signal close of play, the umpire calls 'time" and removes the bails.

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR Set of rules determining the standards of player behaviour on and off the field.

COMMENTATOR Person who describes the action in a game of cricket for listeners on radio or viewers on television.

CONDITIONS The state of the ground and the weather. Also the terms agreed upon by both teams before a game and by both participating countries before a touring party arrives to play a test series.

CRADLE The implement shaped roughly like a large cradle used in fielding practice to offer players at both ends the chance to develop their skills in catching. When the ball is thrown onto the cradle, it comes off at unexpected angles to the group at the other end.

CREASES Lines painted white on he pitch.

DRESS The dress of a cricketer has been modified down the years to a uniform of white to cream colour with long trousers and long or short-sleeved shirts and long-sleeved or sleeveless jumpers, the acceptable headgear being a cap made of the team's colours or a white washer hat, each possibly bearing the team's crest. Because of the use of a white ball against black sightscreens in night cricket and some one-day games, it is inappropriate for players to dress in the traditional manner, and coloured clothing has become acceptable.

DRINKS The break in play, usually about midway through a session, when drinks are brought onto the ground for the refreshment of the players. On very hot days, the captains and umpires may agree to two drinks breaks during one session.

CRUMBLE When a pitch surface starts to break up, usually late in the game and often favours the spin bowler because it can offer his deliveries more grip or bite. CURATOR See GROUNDSMAN

DEFENCE In captaincy, setting a field and directing an attack aimed not at taking wickets but at saving runs.

DEVIL A wicket with some 'devil' in it s a particularly lively strip that can make batting very difficult.

DINNER Refers to the break between innings in a day-night game when, in fact, the players can have a meal if they wish.

DRAW The result when neither team has been able to force victory.

ELEVEN A cricket team, sometimes shown as 'XI',

DRAWING STUMPS The umpires pulling the stumps out of the ground to bring the day's play to a close.

EQUATION Normally relates to one- day games and to the second-innings run chase showing the amount of runs required, the overs remaining and the run rate per over necessary to win the match.

EQUIPMENT The items of gear used by a cricketer: the bat, pads, gloves, helmet, thigh pad, box etc.

EXTRAS See SUNDRIES.

FALL The number of runs scored by the team at the dismissal of each batsman in an innings.

FIRST-CLASS Any match played at a 'representative level over three days or more between two teams that are officially recognised as having first-class status

FIT In terms of the conditions of the wicket and ground, ready for play; in terms of a player, an indication that he is well and strong enough to play.

FLANNELS The cream clothing worn by cricketers, as described in DRESS.

FLAT A wicket that is very easy-paced and even-heighted. Normally, one excellent for stroke play.

GATE The attendance or takings at the turnstiles for a day's play. Also, the gap between the bat and the batsman's legs.

GREENTOP A wicket with a lush grass covering that is most likely to favour the bowler who can move the ball off its seam

GROUNDSMAN The person who tends the outfield and prepares wickets for cricket matches or practice

HAWKE CUP Presented by Lord Hawke in 1910/11 for competition for he Minor Associations. In 1913 the competition was on a challenge basis. The rules allowed for the Cup to change lands for a first-innings win. In 1985/86 o 1994/95 the competition was call the U-Bix Cup. From 1995/96 it became known as the Fuji Xerox Cup.

HELMET Now regarded by most as In essential part of the batsman's )protective equipment. Brought into vogue in 1977 by Middlesex and England player Mike Brearley, who designed a fibreglass skull cap to fit under his ordinary headgear. Other players later came out into the open, first using motorcycle helmets in the World Series cricket seasons of 1977- 78 and 1978-79 and then helmets especially designed for cricket with full facial protection from a fitted visor or just temple protection from a sideguard. Also used by fieldsmen standing close in. It is now not possible for a player to be caught out when the ball has skied off a fieldsman’s helmet.

LEG That half of the field divided by the continuous line from centre stump to centre stump that is behind the batsman when he takes his stance.

LEG-SIDE Anything on the leg side of the field. Also a batsman who scores strongly on that side of the wicket is known as a 'leg-side' player.

LIGHT The degree of visibility affecting the fitness of conditions for play to continue without the batsmen being too inconvenienced.

LOST BALL If the ball is lost, it may be replaced by a ball of similar wear.

LUNCH The break in play after the first session when players, umpires and spectators can have lunch. MAN IN The call, usually from the captain, to inform his team that a new batsman has arrive at the crease and that they should return to their position in the field.

MATTING Covering, usually of a heavy-duty canvas but sometimes of a woven coir or coconut fibre, stretched over a firm base such as concrete to provide a wicket alternative to turf. Not so popular in Australia in recent years because of the development of several alternatives, including artificial grass.

MIDDLE Refers to the wicket area, the place where the action is happening in a game. NETS General term for a practice wicket area, derived from nets strung up between adjacent wickets to prevent a ball being used in one net endangering those practising in another.

‘NOT CRICKET' Phrase applied to a set of circumstances or action taken not acceptable in the code of behaviour of any situation. Derived from the fact that cricket had a strong unwritten code of ethics. The breakdown of that piece of sporting lore in recent years has taken much of the meaning out of the phrase.

OFF That half of the field, the continuous line from centre stump to centre stump being the divider, in front of the batsman when he takes up his stance.

ON-SIDE Anything on the on or leg side of the field. Also the 'on-side' player is one who scores predominantly through that side of the field.

ONE-DAY CRICKET A game usually decided on limited-overs in one day, weather permitting. This style of competition, often played on a knockout basis, began cautiously in 1963 with the introduction in English County cricket of the Gilette Cup series and since has spread rapidly. Because of the urgency created by time, innovations have been made by players and captains

OUT-CRICKET Outside of the bowling and wicket keeping, a general term for a team's performance on the field.

OUTER At first class cricket venues where spectators must either be members or pay to gain entry, the area set aside for the paying public. Usually sited at the opposite or 'outer' end of the ground from the members' area.

PAD The equipment that protects the legs of the batsman or wicket keeper.

PICKETS Colloquial term for the boundary derived from the fact that the boundary fence at many first class venues was a picket fence. Hence the term 'rattling the pickets' when a hard- lit stroke races to the boundary.

PITCH The 22 yards or 20.12 metres of rolled out turf or synthetic surface upon which batting and bowling is performed. Also called the wicket. Provision is made for turf pitches to be covered during a game to protect against weather and to be swept, rolled and remarked before each jay's play and between innings.

PLAY The call given by the umpire to indicate that the game should begin. AIso, the active part of the game is known as ‘play’.

POWERADE Tournaments of under 17 and under 19 youth cricket. Played between the six major districts. The tournaments have two rounds of three-day duration and three rounds of 50 overs.

PROTECTOR See BOX.

PUB CHARITIES Pub Charities sponsor the National Women's tournament where each of the four sides play twice in one day games. There is a playoff for third and fourth and a final for first and second. There is also a tournament for National Women's Under 23 played on a similar format between six teams.

REPORT A written analysis by the captains of the playing conditions and he standard of the umpiring in a game, Also, a written complaint by one or both of the umpires, the match referee or the opposing team about a )reach of the code of behaviour.

RESULT The outcome of the game: win, loss, draw, tie or abandoned.

ROLLER A heavy, cylindrical drum used to prepare and repair a turf, pitch or wicket. These days motorised but in the old days horse-drawn or hand-pulled.

ROLLING The act of driving or pulling the roller up and down the turf wicket to smooth and harden its surface. Can be done under supervision before play and between innings.

SCORE The state of the game, in terms of runs made and wickets lost, 3.g. five wickets down for 242. Also, the number of runs made by an individual in an innings.

SCOREBOARD A structure prominently placed outside the boundary but within the ground confines upon which the score is displayed prominently enough to be read by those out in the middle. SCOREBOOK A specially designed book in which the details of a game are kept as play progresses.

SCORER The person who keeps the score either in a book or on a board.

SELECTORS Those appointed to choose cricket teams.

SEND BACK To refuse, either by voice or signal your partner's call for a run. SESSION A period of play in a cricket match, e.g. from lunch to afternoon tea.

SHELL CONFERENCE Began in 1997/98 with three teams selected by the national selectors to provide more competitive cricket for our best players. An international side or a side will be invited each year to balance the tournament.

SHELL CUP Initially presented in 1975/76 to the winners of the first round of the Shell Competition play. The Cup was resurrected in 1980/81 10 be awarded to the winners of the limited-overs competition. From 1971/72 to 1976/77 the limited overs competition was known as the New Zealand Motor Corporation knockout. It became the Gillette Cup n 1977/78 and 1978/79 and the National Knockout in 1979/80.

SHELL ROSE BOWL Contested annually in a series of three one-day James between the National Women's Teams of Australia and New Zealand.

SHELL TROPHY The Trophy replaced the Plunket Shield in 1975/76. It is awarded to the team winning the final between the top two teams, determined after a round-robin competition.

SIGHTSCREEN A screen of white material used with the red ball in normal competition or of black material used with the white ball in night and some one-day cricket. It is situated behind the bowler's arm to improve the batsman's sight of the ball. Most such screens are mobile to enable alterations at the batsman's command, particularly when bowlers switch over and round the wicket or a left-armer replaces a right-armed bowler. A recent innovation is the development of mechanically powered screens controlled by radio from a handpiece held by the umpire.

SINGLE WICKET A type of competition, quite popular in the sixties and seventies, that puts one man against another at batting and bowling in normal match conditions and with a complement of 'neutral' fieldsmen.

SKIPPER Team captain, a term particularly popular in English cricket. SLEDGE To use abusive words against an opponent (colloquial).

SPLICE The V-shaped cut out of the op of the bat blade into which is gIued the V-shaped bottom of the bat handle. Hence, a ball that rises unexpectedly and is hit high on the bat is sometimes said to have hit 'on the splice'.

SPRIGS Protuberances from the soles of cricket shoes or boots that dig into the ground to offer the wearer some stability.

STATISTICS The summary or records of cricket covering team and individual figures. Recently fervent statisticians have developed this aspect of the game to its saturation point, despite the fact that the game's hanging face has rendered comparisons of performances between yesteryear's and today's players almost worthless.

STICKY WICKET A wicket that has been seriously affected by rain and so made very difficult for batting.

STREAKER Colloquial name given to a person who runs naked on a cricket field. The first streaker in test cricket interrupted the second test between Australia and England at Lord's in 1975.

STUMPS The three uprights, each '1.1cm or 28 inches high with bails atop, which comprise the wickets at each end of the pitch. Also the call from the umpires to signal the close )f play.

SUNDRIES Runs not scored off the bat, i.e. no-balls, byes, leg-byes, and wides.

TEAM Side or eleven (XI).

TEST International game of five or more days' duration between countries that are full members of the International Cricket Council.

TOSS The method of deciding the choice of innings, usually arrived at by the home team captain tossing a coin in the air and the opposing captain caIling 'heads' or 'tails'. The successful captain has the choice of batting or bowling first. TRACK The pitch or wicket (colloquial).

TROT Colloquial term for a sequence, eg three fours ‘on the trot’. Having ‘a bad trot’

TWELFTH MAN An extra man chosen, usually only in representative cricket or important games, to act as a substitute fieldsman if required and to perform dressing room duties. He may field in any position and may even keep wickets, but cannot bowl or bat in the game. The only exception to the latter rule may be when, during the course of a game, one of his team-mates is called away to higher duties at another game.

UMPIRES Persons appointed to officiate a game.

UMPIRES' SIGNALS Signals made with the arms to show actions such as Out, No Ball etc

WICKET Slightly confusing in the cricketing vocabulary, this word can mean the 22-yard playing surface (the pitch); one of the three uprights set at either end as the bowler's target (the stumps); and the dismissal of a batsman, as in the 'taking of a wicket'.


VOCABULARY OF BATTING:

ASKING RATE - The exact number o runs per over that the bat1ing side needs to score to win the game Features in one-day cricket

BACK CUT - See CUT

BACK FOOT - In response to a short- pitched delivery; the batsman uses his back foot to retreat close to the stumps in an effort to handle a rising ball. Often deployed defensively but can also be employed to play attacking strokes, i.e. the back-foot drives, the cuts, the pull and hook and the leg glide off the hip.

BACK UP - The batsman at the non-striker's end leaving his ground after the bowler has released the bal in readiness to take a run.

BATTING - Making use of the bat in defending or attacking after the bal has been delivered by the bowler.

BATTING AVERAGE - Calculated by dividing the total number of runs scored by a batsman by the number of times he has been dismissed.

BATTING CREASE - Also known as the popping crease; the line marked 1.22 metres forward of the stumps that defines the batsman's safe ground in terms of whether he can be stumped or run out. This line is also used to determine whether a bowler has transgressed in bowling a no-ball

BLADE - The solid part of the bat with which the ball is struck.

BRACE - To score nought in each innings of a match.

BUMP BALL - When a batsman plays a ball hard into the ground and it pops up looking to the uninitiated or from a distance to have come clean from the bat and to be a potential catch.

CALL - The shout of 'yes', 'no' or 'waif by a batsman when he wants to let his partner know about the possibility of a run being taken. Also, the shout of an umpire when he wants to let the players know he considers a ball to be a 'wide' or a 'no-ball',

CARRY ONE'S BAT - To go in first and be the not out batsman at the end of a completed innings.

CENTRE - The guard or block sought from the umpire when a batsman wants to position himself in his stance on the line from centre stump to centre stump.

CENTURY - The scoring of a hundred runs.

CHEEKY SINGLE - When batsmen run very smartly between the wickets to complete a run that appeared to be risky.

CHEST GUARD - Recently developed piece of batsman's equipment worn over the chest to protect the batsman should he be hit by a fastball,

CHINESE CUT - An unintentional batting stroke when the ball deflects off the inside edge of the bat and passes between the batsman's body and the stumps, and goes to fine leg Also FRENCH CUT,

CHOP - A batsman coming down sharply in a chopping action on a ball outside the off stump, in an effort to run it down behind point; usually between gully and the slips with a pace bowler in operation, or wide of the slip with a spinner.

CLIP - To firmly strike the ball off the toes into the on-side.

COVER DRIVE - An attacking stroke off the front or back foot looking to hi1 the ball through the covers region.

CROSS-BAT - The strokes that aim to hit the ball across, rather than down the line of the ball. Can be quite technically correct, as in the case of the range of cut, sweep, hook and pull strokes, but can also be the result of incorrect technique in trying to play straight-bat strokes, thus leaving the batsman more vulnerable to dismissal

CUT - The range of scoring strokes aimed from point to just wide of the wicketkeeper and played with a cross-bat motion to short pitched deliveries outside the off stump. The ‘square cut’ is aimed at the point region, the ‘back cut’ fine of the gully, and the ‘late cut’ is played very late and with a chopping motion to angle the ball just wide of a single slip or the wicketkeeper

DAB - A tentative prod with the bat towards the ball outside the off-stump

DANCE - When batting against a spinner, to use the feet to get down the wicket. See USE YOUR FEET

DECLARE - The captain of the batting side closes the innings before all ten wickets fall.

DEFENCE - The action of a batsman offering a stroke with no thought to scoring runs.

DRAG ONE BACK - To play the bowler to the stumps when attempting to execute an attacking shot.

DRIVE - To hit vigorously at the ball with a straight-bat motion off the front or back foot in an endeavour to score runs, usually in the arc from mid- wicket around to point. Consequently a 'good driver' is one who plays the drive often and well.

DUCK - A score of nought, thought to have derived from the fact that a duck's egg is shaped like the figure '0'. Also, to take evasive action where confronted with a fast, short-pitched delivery.

EDGE - The perimeter of the bat. The 'inside edge' is closest to the batsman's body when he plays a straight-bat shot. The 'outside edge' the opposite and the 'bottom edge' is the end or toe of the bat. Also, see SNICK.

ELEVATED - Promoted up the batting order.

FACE - The flat front part of the bat. Also to face the bowling.

FEATHER - The faintest of edges of the bat on the ball, causes him to play across the line and, if the ball deviates, he is at a greater risk of missing it.

FEATHERBED - See BATSMAN'S PARADISE.

FRONT FOOT - The foot closest to the bowler when taking stance.

FLAT BAT - A rarely executed stroke off a short-pitched delivery outside the off stump that is struck back past the bowler with the bat coming through horizontally above waist height.

FOLLOW THROUGH - The bat’s motion after the ball has been struck.

FORCEFUL - A batter who likes to hit the ball hard and often.

FORWARD - The strokes played by moving forward to meet a full-pitched ball. They may be defensive or attacking strokes, and are played off the front foot.

FRONT-ON - When the batsman is open chested rather than in a side-on position to the bowler when playing straight-bat shots. This normally causes him to play across the line and, if the ball deviates , he is at a greater risk of missing it.

FULL-BLOODED - In strokeplay, a shot made with full power.

GARDENING - A batsman patting down or repairing the wicket with his bat or removing rubble from it between deliveries or overs. Often no more than a nervous activity.

GLANCE - To deflect the ball off the angled face of the bat behind square leg.

GLOVE - Colloquial term for the ball flying off the batsman's glove to a fieldsman or the wicket keeper. Umpire gives him the desired line from his position over the stumps at the nonstriker's end.

GLOVES- Pieces of protective equipment worn by batsmen and wicket keepers. The design has beer modified significantly over the years. The best are made mainly of leather

GOLDEN DUCK - When a batsman is dismissed off the first ball he faces.

GUARD - The position in line from stump to stumps at which the bats- man desires to take his stance. Where he wants to acquaint himself with the position, usually on his arrival at the crease, the batsman asks the umpire to pinpoint it, requesting either 'middle or 'centre', 'leg' or 'middle and leg' (halfway between the two), and then holding his bat upright while the umpire gives him the desired line from his position over the stumps at the nonstrikers end.

HALF-VOLLEY - A delivery that is pitched full enough for the batsman playing forward to strike it just after it has landed. An ideal delivery to be firmly driven.

HARROW A bat just short of full size well suited for a player in his early teens or a small adult.

HELMET - Protective headgear, equipped with a metal grille in front 0' the face. Worn by batsmen as well as fields men in close catching positions in front of the wicket.

HOLE OUT - The batsman hits the bal into the deep field and is caught.

HOOK - A stroke played to a short- pitched delivery going down the leg side from a fast bowler. The batsman hits the ball with a cross-batted action and tries to hit it behind square leg.

IN - The time from when a player has begun his innings until it is ended.

INNINGS - Time spent at batting either by an individual or a team.

JUMBO - A particular style of bat developed recently with extra thicken ing at the back of the bat's lower half. These bats are usually heavier than the traditional ones, but can offer greater velocity from a well struck hit

KING PAIR - The scoring of a pair of ducks, each made off the first ball faced

KNOCK - Another ward far an innings

LAP - A gentle sweep stroke played with a horizontal bat usually sending the ball between square leg and fine leg.

LATE-CUT - See CUT

LBW - Leg Before Wicket.

LEG GLANCE - See GLANCE

LOFTED - A ball hit high in the air usually clearing the infield.

LONG HANDLE - Colloquial term for throwing caution to the wind in embarking upon some vigorous stroke play. Actually relates to the habit of some batsmen in these circumstances to grip the handle more towards its top.

MEAT - The part of the bat face that is backed by the thickest layer of wood and from which the best power in well-timed stroke play is available. Usually that section from about a quarter to halfway up the bat from the toe and inwards about an inch from either side.

MIDDLE ORDER - The batting positions numbered five, six and seven between the top-order and the tail.

MIS-HIT - A mistimed or misplaced stroke.

MOW - See AGRICULTURAL SHOT

NIGHTWATCHMAN - A late-order batsman sent in to bat ahead of his normal position to protect a specialist batsman when a wicket falls in the closing minutes of play.

NONSTRIKER Refers to the batsman standing at the bowler's (or nonstriker's) end of the wicket.

NOT OUT To be undismissed during or after an innings. Also the umpire's negative response to appeals from the fielding side.

OFF DRIVE An attacking stroke off the front or back foot when the ball is struck to the mid-off region.

OFF-SIDE Anything on the off-side of the field. Also, a batsman who scores strongly on that side of the wicket is often known as an 'off-side' player.

ON DRIVE As in the OFF DRIVE, but his time hit to the mid-on region.

OPEN ONE'S ACCOUNT To get off he mark. Score the first run of one's innings.

PAD-PLAY Thrusting the padded leg It the line of the ball, rather than letting the ball go or offering a stroke. The practice of pad-play was so prevalent among English batsmen when trying to cope with spin bowling hat the laws were altered to enable a batsman to be given out leg-before- wicket when struck on the pad outside the line of the off stump.

PAIR Loose reference to the making of two ducks in a game Also, two batsmen at the wicket, eg the opening pair

PARTNERSHIP The performance of two batsmen while together during an innings measured in terms of the runs added to the team's total while they are together.

PLAY AT To try a stroke at a delivery. Usually said when a batsman has played a stroke but missed.

PLAY ON When a batsman hits or edges the ball and it continues on to break his stumps. Technically, he is out bowled.

PLUMB See FLAT. Also, when a batsman is palpably in front of his stumps when given out leg-before- wicket.

PULL Cross-bat stroke offered at a short-pitched delivery on a line from about middle stump to outside the off stump, the attempt being to hit the ball away for runs on the on side in front of square leg.

PULL OUT Colloquial term for declaring an innings closed. Also, for a batsman getting into a position to play i stroke and then changing his mind and stopping the shot.

PUT IN Having won the toss, the captain telling the opposition to bat first.

PUTTING UP THE SHUTTERS giving up the chase for a victory target.

REACH A batsman's ability to stretch forward from the crease to playa stroke. The taller the player and the longer his legs, the greater his reach and the more difficult for a bowler, especially a spin bowler, to find a good length for him.

RUN The method of scoring (apart from the case of a wide or a no-ball, when a run is automatically added to the score). Runs are achieved when the batsmen safely run from one end of the pitch to the other or the ball reaches the boundary (a four) or clears it on the full (a six).

RUN-CHASE A situation where the side batting last has to score very quickly.

RUNNER The man, attired in full batting equipment, who comes out to do the running for an injured batsman.

RUN OUT A way of dismissal. Either batsman may be given out if "in running or at any time when the ball is n play, either of the batsmen are out of their ground and the wicket that hey are running to is broken".

RUN THE BALL To open the face of the bat and let the ball run from it down towards third man.

SANDSHOE CRUSHER Colloquial term for the YORKER derived from the likelihood that a yorker aimed at the leg stump will hit the batsman on the foot.

SCOOP Type of cricket bat with one "or more scoops taken out of the back to better distribute the wood and weight throughout the blade.

SIDE-ON The copybook stance and position for the straight-bat shots with he batsman's chest aiming out towards point, the front elbow pointing it the bowler and the batsman looking it the bowler with his eyes parallel with the ground.

SINGLE One run.

SIX A hit that clears the boundary without first touching the ground and is worth six runs.

SKY To hit the ball high in the air, to hit a 'skier'.

SLASH To flay with a half cross-bat notion at a ball outside the off stump bending the ball flying high over the off-side field, usually behind point.

SLICE Method of playing a delivery in or just outside the off stump with an open face of the bat with the aim of "running it down behind point.

SLOG A reckless attempt to thrash he bowling.

SNICK When the ball hits the edge of he bat.

SQUARE-CUT See CUT.

SQUARE-DRIVE An attacking stroke off the front foot aimed at scoring in he area between cover and point.

STOLEN SINGLE So called because a run has been taken, not so much because it was on offer, but because of he enterprise and daring of the runners.

STONEWALLER One who is consistently very slow at gathering his runs.

STRAIGHT BAT When the bat is offered to the ball in a perpendicular pose, preferably with the handle forward of the toe to bring the ball to he ground soon after contact. Should be employed for the forward and backward defensive shots and drives from cover around to mid-wicket.

STRIKE The batsman facing the bowler is said to be 'on strike'. Also, to lit the ball.

STRIKER The man on strike.

STRIKE RATE A player's batting rate measured in the number of runs he scores per hundred balls faced. Can describe performance in one game, a competition, or a player's career. The strike rate of the batting side is calculated on the basis of runs scored per 100 balls received.

SWEEP Cross-bat shot to a well-pitched delivery from a slow bowler when the batsman stretches forward and goes down on his back knee to swing the ball away square of the wicket on the on side.

TAIL The last three or four members of the batting lineup. Hence the terms ‘tailender’ and ‘the tail wagged’. The latter referring to a good return in the form or runs from the last three or four batsmen.

THE V The area in front of the batsman extending from extra cover to mid-wicket. When a batsman is playing in this sector of the field, he is playing with a straight bat.

THIGH PAD Batsman's protective equipment designed to protect the front leg thigh area above the pad. Some players also wear a pad on the inside of their back legs.

TICKLE See SNICK. Also refers to a faint edge to a ball going down outside leg stump, the batsman looking to run it away to fine leg.

TOE The bottom edge of the bat.

TON See CENTURY.

TOP ORDER The specialist batsmen. Usually the first six batsmen are known as the top order.

USE YOUR FEET Against spin bowling, to leave the crease in an attempt to smother the spin or make a half-volley or full-toss of the delivery in order to be able to play an attacking stroke.

WAGON-WHEEL The score chart of Where the batsman scored his runs.

WALK In batting, to give yourself out without waiting for the umpire's decision. In days gone by, particularly in English cricket, considered to be part of the unwritten code of ethics of he game. Not so popular in these days of more professional and competitive cricket.

WOOD Colloquial term for the bat, i.e to 'get some wood on if means to edge the ball or make some contact with the bat on the ball.


VOCABULARY OF BOWLING:

ANALYSIS Relates to the figures in a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, maiden overs, runs conceded and wickets taken for a given period. The figures are usually shown this way: 15-3-44-2.

ARM BALL A delivery by a finger-spin Bowler that seems to be going to spin In the regulation manner, but in fact bends the other way through the air. So called because it swings in the direction of the bowling arm coming through its downswing.

BAG The number of wickets a bowler takes in a given period, as in a match or series.

BALL TAMPERING The practice of deliberately altering the condition of the ball in order to gain a competitive advantage.

BANANA A ball that swings a considerable distance.

BANG A fast bowler pitching rather short, trying to extract the maximum possible bounce.

BEAMER A fast, high full toss, aimed at the batsman's head. Perhaps the most dangerous delivery, because the batsman's ayes are looking down for the ball to bounce from the wicket and he usually isn't aware of the position of the ball until it either hits him or passes him.

BITE The amount of purchase a spin bowler can obtain from the wicket, i.e. sharp turn and lift.

BODYLINE Term stemming from the tactics adopted by England’s fast bowlers during the 1932-33 tour of Australia: a barrage of short-pitched balls aimed at the body with a packed leg-side field devised to blunt the effectiveness of the great Australian batsman Don Bradman. The batsman had four choices in handling such a persistent attack: take evasive action, be hit by the ball, pop up a catch to the close-in fieldsmen on the leg side, or try the hook shot and risk being caught in the deep on the leg-side.

BOSIE Named after the man said to have originated it on the 1903-04 MCC tour of Australia, England spinner BJT Bosanquet. A delivery that appears to be a leg break to the right-hand batsman but actually spins right-hand from off to leg. Also called a googly or wrong 'un.

BOUNCER A fast, short-pitched ball aimed in the line of the batsman's body or head to intimidate him or encourage him to playa risky hook stroke.

BOWL To deliver the ball in a manner deemed fair by the umpires.

BOWLER The player who delivers the ball to set play in motion. The style of bowling varies from player to player and fits no rigid pattern other than those described in the laws. In the earliest days of the game, however, it was the fashion to deliver the ball with an underarm action. In 1835, the laws were changed to allow roundarm bowling and then, in 1864, the current style of overarm was permitted for the first time.

BOWLING AVERAGE Arrived at by dividing the number of runs off the bowler, by the wickets he captured. Thus Sir Richard Hadlee's test ~average is 22.29 (9611 runs divided :>y 431 wickets).

BREAK Spin imparted to the ball by the bowler, or the resulting deviation of the ball after pitching.

BUMPER See BOUNCER.

CHANGE BOWLER The bowler brought into the attack after the opening bowlers have done their stint is called the 'first change bowler'. The term 'change bowler' is often applied to a bowler who is not a front liner but is brought into the attack to offer a change of pace or style.

CHANGE OF PACE A bowler delivers a ball of slower or faster speed than normal in an attempt to deceive the bowler.

CHERRY The new ball -bright red and shiny like a cherry.

CHINAMAN A ball bowled by a left- arm wrist-spin bowler that breaks from off to leg when bowled to a right-hand batsman. The stock ball of a left-arm wrist-spinner bowling to a right-arm batsman.

CHUCKER A bowler who has been deemed by the umpire to have thrown the ball while attempting to make a legitimate delivery.

CORRIDOR OF UNCERTAINTY An imaginary narrow area between off stump and a few centimetres outside off stump. A batsman knows that if he plays at the ball he might edge a catch to slips. If he lets it go he might be bowled or leg before wicket.

CREEPER See GRUBBER.

CUT In pace bowling, when the ball deviates on pitching because the bowler has imparted varying spins on it.

CUT UP The state of the wicket when the sprigs of the bowlers' boots have scoured it in the follow- through strides. This can offer a target for the spin bowler, and that was the main reason for the definition of the 'danger area',

CUTTERS Deliveries that deviate off the pitch because a pace bowler has made them seam.

DANGER AREA That part of the pitch, which, according to the Laws, must be protected from damage by the Bowler’s follow-through.

DELIVERY A ball bowled.

DONKEY-DROP A delivery from a slow bowler with a high dropping trajectory.

DOT BALL A ball from which no runs ~re scored and no wickets are taken. The term refers to the 'dot' that is recorded in the score book.

DRAG When a bowler's rear boot slides along the ground in the act of delivery. In the days when the no ball was judged on the placement of the back foot, some fast bowlers developed a very long drag that carried them in some cases more than a metre over the popping crease before they released the ball. It made them significantly faster in reaching the batsman.

DROP ONE SHORT In fast bowling, to fire in a short-pitched delivery.

ECONOMY RATE The number of runs scored off a bowler divided by the number of overs he bowled, e.g. 24 runs conceded off 4 overs equals an economy rate of 6 runs per over.

EXPRESS Very fast bowling.

FAST Refers to bowlers who deliver the ball at high speed, and to a wicket with plenty of pace and bounce.

FAST-MEDIUM A pace bowler whose speed of delivery ranks somewhere between medium-pace and fast.

FIERY A bowler who bowls with considerable hostility and sends down a high percentage of short-pitched deliveries. A wicket that assists pace bowlers in their efforts to make the ball lift sharply.

FINGER-SPIN Spin imparted to the ball chiefly through movement of the fingers rather than the wrist. The ball comes out of the front of the hand.

FLIGHT The loopy arc attained by a spin bowler who applies overspin to the ball when bowling into a breeze. The well-flighted ball drops to the pitch at a sharper angle than is expected, and this can cause a catch to be offered in front of the wicket.

FLIPPER A delivery in the leg- spinner's repertoire first produced in test cricket by Australia's Clarrie Grimmett. The ball is squeezed or flipped out of the fingers in an under- the-hand motion and the ball comes on much flatter and faster to the batsman.

FOLLOW-THROUGH There are two types of follow through: one, the motion of the top half of the bowler’s body driven by the delivery arm through an arc down the side of the body. The other, the few wind-down strides after the bowler has released the ball.

FRONT-ON When the bowler is square-chested, rather than side-on to the batsman at the point of delivery. In the case of right-arm bowler, a front-on action would make it very difficult for him to swing the ball from right to left as he looked down the wicket.

FULL TOSS A delivery by a bowler that reaches the batsman on the full and thereby is an easy ball to hit away for runs.

GIVE THE BALL AIR Refers to the spinner tossing a delivery well up in the air.

GOOD LENGTH A ball that lands in a position that leaves the batsman in doubt as to whether he should play forward or back.

GREEN TOP A pitch with a lush covering of grass that provides quicker bowlers with favourable conditions for seaming the ball.

GRUBBER A ball that stays very low after hitting the pitch.

HAT TRICK The occasion when a bowler claims wickets with each of three successive deliveries, which need not necessarily be in the same over, or even the same innings, but must be in the one match.

HOLD ONE BACK Part of a bowler's 'repertoire when attempting to deceive he batsman by releasing the ball before his hand reaches the top of its delivery arc. The ball takes a fraction longer to reach the batsman and a mistimed shot may result.

HOW'S THAT? The traditional form of ~appeal to the umpire when a bowler or a fieldsman considers the batsman ;should be given out.

IN-SWING A delivery from a bowler of any pace, but usually from medium to fast, that deviates through the air from off to leg to the batsman.

INTIMIDATION The use of the fast, short pitched delivery in an attempt to cause or threaten injury to the batsman. The hope is that it will claim a wicket by having the batsman caught while fending the ball off his body, or by trying to play the hook shot, or by dismissing him in some other way within a few deliveries as a result of the unsettling effect of the intimidation. Umpires are now empowered to take action against intimidating tactics by bowlers.

JAG See CUT and SEAM (colloquial).

LEG BREAK A delivery from a spin bowler that turns from the leg to the off. Usually describes the stock delivery of the right-armed wrist spinner or left-armed finger-spinner.

LEG CUTTER A delivery from a pace bowler that deviates from leg to off upon landing on the pitch. See CUTTERS.

LEG THEORY See BODYLINE.

LENGTH Relates to the portion of the pitch upon which a delivery lands or would have landed if not struck by the batsman.

LONG HOP A short pitched delivery, usually from a slow or slow-medium paced bowler, that can be easily despatched with a cross bat stroke to 3ither side of the wicket.

MAlDEN For the bowler, an over in which he has conceded no runs from the bat.

MANKAD Colloquial term for the bowler’s act of running out the batsman at the nonstriker's end when he has illegally backed up out If his ground before the ball has been released. Named after an incident of this nature which was perpetrated by the Indian player Vinoo Mankad. It is generally considered to be 'correct' for the bowler or the fielding captain to first warn a batsman that he will be run out if he continues to transgress.

NEW BALL As suggested, a ball that is brand new or in the very early stages of its use in a game, but more relevant in terms of the taking of a second or third new ball in a long innings. Over the years of competitive cricket the time when a new ball could be taken has varied significantly. At one stage it even related to the number of runs score (by the batting side. It now relates to overs bowled, and the minimum figure for a first-class game is 80 six-ball overs.

OFF-BREAK A spin bowler's deliver~ that deviates from the off to the leg after hitting the pitch.

OFF-CUTTER A pace bowler's delivery that deviates from the off to the leg after hitting the pitch.

OLD BALL As suggested, a ball that has been in use for some time in an innings. Often referred to when spinners are in operation or in the period leading up to the availability of a new ball.

OUT-SWING A delivery from a bowler of any pace but usually from medium to fast, that deviates through the air from leg to off to the batsman.

OVERPITCH To send the ball beyond a good length when bowling.

OVER THE WICKET Delivering the ball from the hand that is closer to the bowler's wicket.

PACE All modes of bowling other than spin, from medium-pace to express.

PITCH The point at which the ball first makes contact with the ground after being bowled.

PITCH UP To send the ball up on a good length.

PUT IN In bowling, to toil hard for the team.

PUT ON A bowler being brought into the attack.

QUICK Fast, in terms of a bowler's pace. A fast bowler (colloquial).

QUICKIE A fast bowler (colloquial)

RETURN CREASE The lines extending "on the popping crease and beyond the bowling crease to on either, side of the wicket The purpose is to show a line inside which a bowlers rear foot must land in the act of delivery.

REVERSE SWING Later in an innings, after about 40 overs have been bowled, some bowlers have the ability to make the ball swing in the opposite direction than the batsman would expect from the way the ball is held and delivered. The movement is brought about through one side of the ball becoming heavier than the other by the illegal means of adding sweat or saliva.

ROUND THE WICKET Delivering the ball from the hand that is further away from the bowler's wicket.

RUN THE BALL AWAY To make the ball move away from the batsman towards the slips.

RUN UP The bowler's running~ approach to the wicket prior to delivering the ball.

SEAM The stitching that holds together the two halves of the outer casing of a cricket ball. It offers the bowler, something to grip when delivering the ball, and II helps the bowler make the ball spin or swing Also, it determines the deviation of the ball to the left or right after it has landed on its seam. Both the bowler (who can achieve this movement off the wicket) and the type of delivery are known as 'seamers’

SHINE The amount of sheen on the ball's surface, often enhanced by the illegal introduction of matter such as spit or face creams.

SHORT PITCHED A delivery that hits the pitch well short of a good length. Usually related to fast bowling and often to intimidatory bowling.

SIDE-ON In bowling, a position most desirable for accuracy and swing. The bowler turns from a front-on run-up to a side-on position looking over his front shoulder at the batsman during the delivery stride.

SKITTLE To comprehensively bowl out

SLINGER A type of pace bowler whose delivery arm describes a clear arc, slightly roundarmed, as in the action of a javelin thrower. A good example of a slinger, is the great Australian Jeff Thomson.

SLOW BOWLER Usually, a bowler who attempts to deceive the batsman with spin and flight.

SPIN A rotary motion imparted to the ball as it is delivered by the bowler's fingers or wrist which makes the ball turn when it hits the ground.

SPINNER A bowler who specialises in spinning the ball. Broadly speaking any slow bowler.

STOCK BALL The type of delivery that is the standard part of the bowlers skill. The ball that he bowls five times in one over with the remaining ball being the variation. Unless a bowler has a good stock ball he lacks consistency for his captain to set a field for.

STOCK BOWLER One whose duty is to bowl tight and close up on end, while attacking bowlers either work at the other end or have a spell.

STRIKE BOWLER An attacking bowler who bowls in short spells to an attacking field, especially with the new ball or to a new batsman. His primary function is to take wickets rather than restrict runs.

STRIKE RATE The strike rate for a bowler is calculated by dividing the number of wickets taken by the number of games played. More frequently used to show in terms of wickets per 100 balls bowled.

SUBMARINE See GRUBBER.

SWERVE See SWING.

SWING Usually the craft of the pace bowler, it is the movement of the ball to left or right through the air during its flight. Caused by aerodynamics affected by the shine on the ball and the prominent seam that causes a drag on one side of the ball. Through reverse application of the principles and variations in body placements, the good swing bowler can make the ball move either way.

THROAT BALL A short-pitched fast ball that rises steeply off the pitch towards the batsman’s throat. Hard to defend, hard to attack.

TOP-SPIN A delivery from the wrist-spin bowler designed not to spin, but to hurry straight on at the batsman and get through his defences. The top-spinner sometimes also bounces a little more than expected.

TURN See SPIN.

TURN SQUARE A wicket that is extremely helpful to spin bowlers. It is often said it "is turning square' (colloquial).

TWEAKER A spin bowler.

UNDERARM Originally all bowling was underarm. Not used today except in fielding.

UMBRELLA FIELD A very attacking field set for a fast bowler with the new ball. Normally three slips, two gully’s, and two or three close-fielders on the on side.

UNPLAYABLE A playing surface or a delivery of a ball that is extremely difficult for a batsman to deal with.

USE THE CREASE In bowling, to vary the delivery position in relation to the stumps and the batting and return creases.

WHEEL A term used to describe a slow bowler bowling for a long, uninterrupted spell.

WHIPPY A bowler's action that is characterised by a sudden sharp movement as the ball is being delivered.

WICKET MAIDEN An over in which he bowler has dismissed a batsman ind not conceded a run.

WORKHORSE A bowler whose main function is to bowl defensively for long spells to contain and frustrate the batsman into doing something rash.

WRIST SPINNER An exponent of wrist-spin bowling.

WRONG 'UN See BOSIE.

YORKER A delivery that passes under the bat, having pitched right up to or just inside the popping crease.

ZOOTER A mysterious ball bowled with a wrist-spinner's action and designed to deceive the batsman. Some would say that it is a phantom ball publicised to confuse batsmen to look for variations that don't exist. A good illustration of a bowler conducting psychological warfare.


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