Cricket terminologies

DR. CLIFFORD MOLEFE

It is important for our readers to understand the terms used in cricket. Therefore, today we are going to touch on cricket terminologies.

All-rounder

An all-rounder is a competent player capable of batting, bowling, and providing his worth as a fielder as well.

Talking about a fielder, we have what is called an appeal, which is a loud call by a fielder, often the bowler, to an umpire to give the batsman out.

A batsman cannot be given out unless an appeal is made to the umpire.

Bouncer

A bouncer is a fast, short-pitched delivery that reaches the batsman at shoulder height or above.

Bye

A bye is any run that is made when the ball passes the wicket untouched by the batsman.

Century

A century is an individual score of 100 runs.

Close Field

A close fielder is a fielder who takes up a position close to the field.

Cut

A stroke was made at a short-pitched ball on the offside. The bat is held horizontally at the time of making the stroke.

Dead ball

There are many instances when the ball is considered to be ‘dead’. The main ones occur when it has finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper, reaches or lands over the boundary, and when a batsman is out.

It lodges in the clothing of a batsman or umpire, or in the protective headgear of a member of the fielding side.

The umpire calls an end to an over, or the day’s play.

Draw

Any match that fails to produce results is a draw.

Drive

A stroke played with a straight bat to either the off or on side.

Duck

A score of nought (0) is called a duck in cricket.

Extras

All runs added to the score made other than with the bat are called extras.

Flight

Flight is the path of the ball while in the air.

Forward stroke

If the batsman advances his front foot down the pitch in order to play the ball as close as possible to where it pitches, that is called a forward stroke.

Full Toss

A ball delivered that reaches the batsman without hitting the ground is also known as a ‘full pitch’.

Glance

A ball deflected off the face of the bat is a glance. It is often made down the leg-side.

Golden Duck

When a player is dismissed off the first ball he receives, that is called a golden duck.

Half volley

A delivery hit to the front foot and an instant after it has bounced.

Hat Trick

A bowler performs the hat trick if he claims three victims with successive deliveries. They need not be in the same over—indeed, not even in the same innings—but must be in the same match to count.

Length

Length: All bowlers try to find a good length—the point where the ball pitches. A delivery with per length will be a difficult one for the batsman to play, often leaving him undecided about what shot to attempt.

Maiden over

An over in which the batsman fails to score a run off the bowling.

Middle

Another name by which the actual prepared pitch is known.

That is all for this week. We still have more cricket terminologies that I will share with you in the next edition.