Cricket Glossary

GLOSSARY OF CRICKET TERMS

A BOX:

This is a Genital protector often incorrectly called an abdominal protector.

JOCKSTRAP:

A supporter which has a pouch to hold a box in place.

PICK-UP:

The way a bat feels to a particular batsman. Bats of the same weight can pick-up differently.

ALL-ROUNDER:

A player who is proficient at both batting and bowling.

YORKER:

A ball pitching at the feet of the batsman.

FULL-TOSS:

A ball that reaches the batsman without bouncing.

BEAMER:

A head high full toss.

HALF-VOLLEY:

A ball pitching about a yard in front of the batsman.

JAFFA:

An almost unplayable delivery.

SWING BOWLER:

A bowler whose main aim is to move the ball in the air.

SEAM BOWLER (OR SEAMER):

A bowler whose main aim is to move the ball off the pitch by landing it on the seam.

OFF-BREAK BOWLER:

A right arm finger spinner who spins the ball into a right-handed batsman from outside the off stump.

SLOW LEFT ARM:

A left arm off break bowler.

ARM-BALL:

A ball bowled by a finger spinner that goes straight but drifts outwards later in flight.

LEG BREAK BOWLER:

A right arm wrist spinner who spins the ball away (i.e. from leg to off) from a right-handed batsman.

CHINAMAN:

A ball bowled by a left arm wrist spinner which spins into a right handed batsman.

GOOGLY:

A ball bowled by a wrist spinner that turns the opposite way.

TOP SPINNER:

A top spinner bowled by a wrist spinner which goes straight-on.

PITCH:

A 22 yard strip on which the ball is bowled. (Sometimes called "the wicket").

WICKET:

A set of 3 stumps and 2 bails. (Same used to describe the pitch).

SQUARE:

The area in the centre of a cricket ground specially prepared and rolled to form the pitch.

BOUNDARY:

The line denoting the edge of the playing area.

FOUR:

The number of runs given to the batsman when striking the ball which lands within the playing area, but travels over the boundary.

SIX:

The number of runs given to the batsman when striking the ball over the boundary without landing within the playing area.

SLOGGER:

A batsman who hits the ball across the line (i.e. the bat does not come down in a straight swing) generally in the air.

BLOCKER:

A batsman who plays too defensively.

A PLANK:

A bat which performs poorly - such bats (though rare) often give vibration in the batsman's hands.