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As you explore this Website, you may notice words or phrases that are unfamiliar to you. Use this glossary to help you keep your cricket speak in check.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y
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"It's not cricket" - In England, this saying means that somebody is breaking the rules or being unfair. Cricketers don't do that.
Batsman - Another word for batter.
Batting crease - A line that's 4 ft 3 in (1.3 m) in front of each wicket and that designates where the batters stand.
Bowled out - When the bowler gets the ball past the batter's defense and it hits the stumps and knocks off the bails. The batter can also be bowled out if he deflects the ball onto the stumps from his bat or his leg pad.
Bowler - Like the "pitcher" in baseball, the bowler bowls the ball to the striking batter. The bowler doesn't just bowl the ball. He can - and sometimes does - take a catch or throw the ball at the wicket to cause a run-out.
Bowling crease - This mark where the bowler throws the ball.
Caught - When the batter hits the ball in the air and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground.
Century - When 100 runs are scored in one innings.
Cover - A busy fielding position that requires a quick, agile player, since this fielder stops runs coming from the batter.
Fielders - Ten players, spread out around the field, who are on the bowler's team. They stop the ball from reaching the boundary, catch it and throw the ball back into either one of the wickets to stop the batter from scoring runs or create a run-out.
Fine leg - The main aim of this fielder is to save runs, rather than to attack the batsmen, as the close-in positions do. Like third man, this fielder should be a fast runner.
Gully - A fielder who stands just wide of the slip fielder.
Innings - When all eleven batters on a team have completed their batting, it's called the end of "innings." In test cricket, each team plays two innings. In one-day cricket, each team plays one inning. After the first team has completed its inning, the two teams change roles and the batting team becomes the fielding team.
International Cricket Council (ICC) - The worldwide governing body of cricket.
Leg before wicket - When the ball misses the bat, but hits the batter's pads. If the umpire thinks the ball would have hit the wicket, he can call the batsman out.
Maiden over - If the batter does not score any runs during an over, it is called a "maiden over."
Marylebone Cricket Club - Located in England, this is the most famous cricket club in the world.
Mid-off - This fielder stops the straight drive and prevents the batters from running quick "singles." The captain often occupies this position, because it keeps him close to the bowler.
Mid-wicket - As a run-saving position, this fielder has to cover a lot of ground.
Non-striker - One of two batters who stands on the popping crease, off to the side of the pitch, but doesn't attempt to hit the ball.
Over - The bowler has six bowls per "over." He delivers each of these bowls from one end of the pitch. After six bowls, a new bowler bowls an over, or six deliveries, from the opposite end of the pitch.
Pitch - A rectangular section in the centre of the field where most of the action happens. Wickets, batters and the bowler take their position here. The pitch is a flat strip that is 66 feet (20.12 m) long.
Point - This is a very busy position, usually reserved for the best fielder in the team. The Point fielder stops the forceful shots and often takes spectacular, diving catches.
Popping crease - Where the running batter (or non-striker) stands, this crease is opposite from the return crease.
Return crease - Where the striking batter stands, this crease is opposite from the popping crease.
Run-out - When the batters are going for a run, but fall short of the batting crease and the bails are knocked off the stumps by the fielding team.
Slips - These fielders have lightening-fast reflexes and stand close to the wicket keeper.
Striking batter - Stands in front of the wickets at the upper end of the pitch and tries to hit the ball in order to score.
Stumped - The batter is stumped when the batter has advanced down the pitch toward the bowler, misses the ball, and the player behind the stumps - the wicket keeper - knocks the bails off before the batter returns to his crease.
Third Man - This position is all about saving runs. This fielder needs to be a very fast runner to prevent the ball from crossing the boundary.
Wicket - There are two wickets in the pitch, at opposite ends. The wicket consists of three vertical elements, called "stumps," surmounted by two horizontal pieces, called "bails."
Wicket Keeper - This player stands very close behind the wicket, like a catcher in baseball, and catches the ball if the batter misses it. If the batter hits the ball and the wicket keeper catches it before it hits the ground, the batter is out.
Other glossary terms
There are hundreds more terms and phrases that really show how colourful cricket can be! If you want to learn more cricket jargon, try one of these links:
Illustrations supplied courtesy of England and Wales Cricket Board
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