Cricket Terms &
Glossary Hub

A player who can both bat and bowl effectively.

A loud shout from the fielding side asking the umpire to give the batsman out.

A sneaky delivery from a spinner that doesn't turn. It travels straight with the arm.

A Test cricket series played between England and Australia.

The runs needed per over to win. Numbers rise, pressure builds.

The hard leather object everything revolves around. Red, white, or pink.

Illegal attempt to change ball condition. Scratching, picking, or adding substances.

Fielding position right near batter's bat and pads. Very close. Reflex-based.

Modern term for batsman or batswoman. The one scoring runs.

A dangerous full toss aimed at the head. No bounce. Usually accidental.

A flat, perfect batting pitch. Ball comes nicely. Bowlers suffer. Batters smile.

Phrase for bowling with serious effort. Fast, aggressive run-up.

Getting out without scoring. Zero runs. A short walk back.

Controversial tactic targeting body with short balls. Heavy leg-side field.

Another name for googly. A deceptive leg-spinner delivery.

Short-pitched ball rising toward head or chest. Tests courage. Used to intimidate.

The rope marking edge of the field. Ball crossing it means four or six.

Protective gear worn by batters. Guards sensitive areas.

When ball hits bat then ground before fielder catches.

Another term for bouncer. Short and hostile.

A batter who consistently struggles against certain bowlers.

A pitch offering extreme spin. Spinners dominate.

Runs scored when ball misses bat and body. Goes to team total.

Opening batter remains not out through entire innings.

When a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground after being hit by the bat.

When a batsman scores 100 or more runs in a single innings.

Batter leaves crease early, rushing bowler. Risky.

Bowling action where chest faces batter.

Left-arm wrist-spin delivery turning into right-hander.

Series of bouncers aimed near head. Intimidating tactic.

Bowler who throws instead of bowling. Illegal action.

When the bowler hits the stumps and dislodges the bails without the ball touching anything else.

Bat angle turned inward at contact. Often causes leading edges.

Narrow line outside off stump. Batters unsure to play or leave.

Deep leg-side boundary area. Big hitters target it.

An elegant batting shot played through the covers on the off side.

Lines marked on the pitch that define batting and bowling positions.

Fast-paced version of cricket. Shorter overs, entertainment focus.

Bat swings horizontally. Power shots.

Play stops temporarily. Ball considered inactive.

Captain ends innings voluntarily to force result.

A single ball bowled by the bowler to the batsman.

Medium-pace bowlers without express speed.

An easy catch, floating gently. Almost gift-wrapped.

Off-spinner's surprise ball turning opposite way.

A delivery from which no runs are scored.

Looped delivery tossed high in air. Tempts big shots.

A batting stroke played with a straight bat, hitting the ball along the ground.

Decision Review System - technology used to review umpire decisions.

Dismissal without scoring a run.

Rain-affected match calculation system.

Ball clips bat's edge accidentally. Unintentional.

Runs conceded per over by bowler. Measures control.

Player represents brands, earns money.

Unwritten cricket codes of conduct and sportsmanship.

Non-competitive game for entertainment. Raises money.

A fielding position between cover and mid-off.

Runs not credited to batter. Wides, no-balls, byes, leg-byes.

Another term for batting paradise pitch. Soft bounce.

When a batsman scores 50 runs in an innings.

A fielding position behind the batsman on the leg side.

Leg-spinner's backspin delivery. Skids low after pitching.

In a two-innings match, if the side batting second ends a set margin behind — 200 runs in a five-day Test — the other captain can make it bat again straight away.

The delivery after a front-foot no-ball in limited-overs cricket. The batter can't be out bowled, caught, LBW or stumped, but can still be run out.

A delivery reaching batter without bouncing.

Batters tap pitch with bat between balls. Checks bounce.

When a batsman is dismissed on the first ball they face.

Bowling length that troubles batters most.

Leg-spinner's deceptive delivery spinning opposite direction.

Ball that stays very low after pitching. Skids through.

A fielding position on the off side between point and slips.

Over-pitched delivery begging to be hit.

Former dismissal for touching the ball with a hand not holding the bat. Since 2017 it has been part of obstructing the field.

When a bowler takes three wickets in three consecutive deliveries.

Ball-tracking technology used for decisions.

Bowling term meaning ball feels hard to hit.

Illegal act where batter strikes ball twice deliberately.

Fast bowler phrase meaning pitch ball hard.

When a batsman is dismissed by hitting their own stumps.

Ugly, powerful swing aimed for distance.

A batting shot played to a short ball.

Delivery swinging into batter late.

The period in which a team bats; can also refer to an individual batsman's turn.

Shot where batter hits over off-side by opening stance.

A delivery that swings towards the batsman in the air.

An unplayable delivery. Perfect line, length, movement.

Getting out for zero in both innings. Two ducks.

An overseas player who counted as a local in English county cricket under the 2003 Kolpak ruling. The route closed after Brexit, from 2021.

Leg Before Wicket - when the ball hits the batsman's leg and would have hit the stumps.

Ball strikes bat's front edge. Pops upward dangerously.

Runs scored off batter's body, not bat.

Standard leg-spinner delivery turning away from right-hander.

Fast bowler's delivery cutting from leg side.

Half of field behind batter's legs.

Bowling tactic focusing on leg-side field placements.

Distance ball pitches from batter.

Short ball that rises sharply.

Direction of ball relative to stumps.

Very slow, high full toss. Looks inviting.

Short delivery sitting up nicely. Easy to punish.

Extra flight given by spinner. Draws batter forward.

An over in which the bowler concedes no runs. Byes and leg-byes don't count against the bowler.

Full name for a maiden: an over in which the bowler concedes no runs.

The player judged to have made the most significant contribution.

A bar chart of the runs scored in each over, named for its resemblance to a city skyline.

Informal name for the bowler running out a non-striker who leaves the crease before the ball is released. Since 2022 the Laws treat it as an ordinary run out.

Marylebone Cricket Club, guardians of cricket laws.

A fielding position on the off side near the bowler.

A fielding position on the leg side near the bowler.

Sweet spot of the bat. Perfect contact.

Medium-fast bowling without extreme pace.

Extremely dangerous pitch. Uneven bounce everywhere.

Score of 111 or multiples. Superstition says unlucky.

Batters approaching hundred feel pressure.

Stat measuring scoring speed difference.

Fresh hard ball taken early innings. Swings more.

Faint edge off bat. Often caught by keeper or slips.

Lower-order batter sent late in day to protect key hitters.

Illegal delivery overstepping crease or rule breach.

Gentle shot using soft hands. Rotates strike.

Batter deliberately blocks fielder illegally.

Batting patiently for long periods.

A finger spinner's stock ball that turns from off to leg — into a right-handed batter.

Seam delivery cutting from off side.

Scoring first run. Breaks pressure.

Field area in front of batter's body.

Spin bowling that turns from off to leg for a right-hander.

Playing ball immediately after bounce.

Field area behind batter's legs.

Any dismissal ending batter's innings.

Contact made away from bat's center.

Ball swings away from batter in air.

A set of six legal deliveries bowled by one bowler.

A fast bowler who relies on speed.

Soft-handed shot played fine behind square.

Two ducks in same match.

Batters sent to attack immediately.

Prepared strip where cricket happens.

Bowled after the ball deflects off the batter's own bat or body onto the stumps.

Slang for absolutely out LBW.

Restricted overs with fielding limits.

Soft, lifeless pitch. Offers nothing to bowlers.

Horizontal bat shot against short ball.

Tailender who can't bat well.

Line beside stumps marking batter's ground.

Batter leaves innings voluntarily.

When a batsman leaves the field due to injury.

Sweep played opposite direction.

Old ball swinging unexpectedly.

Circle of close fielders saving singles.

Sharp turn or bounce from pitch.

Batting footwork moving back.

Pitch preparation process.

Equipment used on pitch.

When a batsman is dismissed while attempting a run.

Runs per over scoring speed.

A yorker-length delivery aimed at batter's feet.

Raised stitching on cricket ball. Helps movement off pitch.

Batter lets ball pass without playing.

A flat, hard batting pitch with even bounce that gives bowlers little help.

Delivery that skids extremely low.

Bowling action alignment sideways to batter.

A close catching position on the off side.

An easy catch that should be taken.

When the ball crosses the boundary without bouncing.

Verbal chatter aimed at distracting opponent.

A fielding position close behind the batsman.

Wild attacking shot with little technique.

Deceptive delivery bowled slower than usual.

A fielding position on the leg side.

Bowler's standard delivery.

Batting purely defensively. No scoring intent.

Runs scored per hundred balls.

When the wicketkeeper removes the bails while batsman is out of crease.

Movement of ball in air. Depends on seam, shine, conditions.

Lower-order batter. Limited skill.

The longest international format: two innings per side over up to five days.

A fielding position behind the batsman on the off side.

Twenty20 - a short format of cricket with 20 overs per side.

Scoring one hundred runs.

When the ball hits the top of the bat.

Medium-paced bowler lacking speed.

The first-choice substitute fielder. A fielding substitute can't bat or bowl; concussion replacements are a separate rule.

An official who makes decisions about the game's rules.

A batting shot that hits the ball over the slips area.

The V-shaped area on the cricket field between mid-off and mid-on.

Batter leaves crease believing out without umpire decision.

Central set of three stumps. Also means dismissal.

The fielder who stands behind the stumps.

Illegal delivery too far from batter to reach.

Bowling style using wrist to impart spin.

Leg-spinner's deceptive delivery spinning opposite direction.

Psychological issue causing loss of fine motor control.

Very full delivery aimed at base of stumps.

Rare leg-spinner delivery skidding through extremely low.