Commentators or even some experts used very different terminology while talking about cricket. These terms are somewhat unknown by many fans. Here is a look at various lesser-known terms used in cricket.
Anchor
An anchor is a role that some of the batters employ which is considered to be a safer approach while other batters around them take a more aggressive high-risk approach. An anchor plays with a slightly lower strike rate, this strike rate varies depending on the format of the game. In T20 format for example a batter playing with a strike rate of less than 120 or 130 is considered to be an anchor. In modern-day cricket, there are arguments that are made that say there is no need for an anchor at least in T20 cricket.
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Arm Ball
An arm ball has become a potent weapon for many spinners. The arm ball is bowled by finger spinners. From the batter’s point of view, the delivery while coming out of the bowler’s hand appears to be a traditional orthodox spin delivery. The arm ball is different from the traditional spin delivery as it does not turn after pitching. The arm ball after pitching follows the line of pitch and goes with the arm hence the name, arm ball.
Bowling side
When a bowler is bowling they have an option to bowl from over the wicket or around the wicket/round the wicket.
Over the wicket: For a right-handed bowler bowling from the left of the non-striker stumps is known as over the wicket. It’s vice-versa for a left-handed bowler.
Around the wicket/round the wicket: For a right-handed bowler bowling bowling from the right of the non-striker stumps is known as around the wicket or round the wicket. It’s vice-versa for a left-handed bowler.
Audi in cricket
Audi is a luxurious car. But Audi also has a place in cricket terminology. When a batter makes two consecutive pairs or four consecutive ducks then it is known as Audi. Audi’s logo is made up of four rings which symbolises four ducks.
Average
Batting average: The batting average is calculated to measure how many runs a batter scores per dismissal. The batting average is calculated by dividing the runs scored by the dismissals.
Bowling average: The bowling average is calculated to measure how many runs a bowler concede before taking a wicket. It is calculated by dividing the runs conceded by wickets taken by a bowler.
Back spin
Back spin is a delivery used by spinners to confuse the batters to induce a false shot. The back spin is bowled with a backward spin. This delivery slows down after pitching. Back spin from some bowlers even has a variation where it bounces lower and skids onto the batter.
Backing up
Backing up is something that has been a hot topic for some time in cricket. Backing up in cricket has two meanings.
Backing up while batting: While batting a player at the non-striker end usually goes out of the crease to steal an extra two or three yards. The bowlers in such cases are allowed to run the batter out (previously known as mankading).
Backing up while fielding: While fielding if a fielder is attempting a throw at either the striker or non-striker end then there is a need for backing up. Backing up to a throw allows the prevention of overthrows.
Baggy Green
Baggy Green is the cap which is presented to Australian test cricketers.
Ball tampering
Ball tampering is the process of changing the condition of the ball to make it more favourable for the bowlers. Ball tampering can be done by using various methods and objects. Even though ball tampering is not allowed and if someone is caught doing then they face dire punishments, still, many present and former cricketers like Steve Smith, David Warner and Shahid Afridi have been involved in ball tampering. Ball tampering can be done to help both spinners and pacers.
Ball tracking
Ball tracking is a computerised technology which is used to determine LBWs using the DRS technology.
Batting collapse
When a batting team lose wickets in a hurry or in quick succession without making many runs then it is known as batting collapse.
Beamer
Beamer is a type of delivery that is above the waist of the batter without bouncing.
Block hole
Block hole is usually a target for the bowler’s bowling yorker delivery. A block hole is the gap between the bat and the batter’s toes.
Bodyline
Bodyline is a type of bowling that was used by English bowlers during the 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia. Bodyline as the name suggests is the type of bowling aiming at the body of the batters. Bodyline underwent criticism with people saying it was unsporting behaviour by the English team.
Bowled around the legs
The term bowled around the legs is used when a batter is dismissed by a delivery which passes from behind his legs and then makes contact with the stumps.
Bowl-out
Bowl-out was a method used in deciding a winner if a match ended in a tie. In a bowl-out bowlers from both teams bowled at a wicket without a batter. The team which made contact with the stumps the most times won. It has now been replaced by Super Over.
Carrom Ball
A method of bowling used by spin bowlers to impart spin, in which the ball is flicked between the thumb and a bent middle finger.
Carry the bat
Carry the bat or carrying the bat takes place when an opening batter remains not out till the end of the batting innings.
Castled
Castled is a term used when a batter is bowled. It is mostly used when a batter is bowled by a yorker.
Chin Music
Chin music is a term used when a bowling team deliberately targets the batter’s chin or head by bowling a barrage of bouncers.
Cherry
Cherry is a slang used for a new red ball.
Clean bowled
Getting clean bowled is different than getting bowled. The term clean bowled is used when the ball hits the stumps without hitting the bat or the pad of the batter.
Slip Cordon (Cordon)
Slip cordon or cordon is a group of slip fielders. The slip cordon sometimes also includes the gully fielder. A slip cordon is usually seen in test cricket when a bowler is bowling with a new ball.
Corridor of uncertainty
Corridor of uncertainty is the line and length where the batter feels uncertain whether to hit the ball or leave the ball. The corridor of uncertainty is a tactic used by many bowlers, especially to someone like Virat Kohli who is known for getting out in the corridor.
Cow corner
Cow corner is a fielding position between deep mid-wicket and wide long-on.
Cross-bat shot
A cross-bat shot is a shot which is played with the bat being horizontal. Pull shots and cut shots are known as cross-bat shots.
Daddy hundred
Daddy Hundred refers to a century where the batter scores some more runs even after reaching a hundred. There is no universal value which indicates a daddy hundred but generally a player scoring more than 150 runs is known to have made a daddy hundred.
Dance down or dancing down
Dance down or dancing down the pitch is when a batter takes a few steps to get to the pitch of the ball. Dancing down the pitch is generally done against the spinners to disrupt their line and length.
Dead rubber
Dead rubber is the match where the result does not matter. For example in a three-match series if a team has won the first two matches then the third match will not make any difference in the outcome of the series, hence the third match in this case will be a dead rubber.
Dolly
Dolly is the term used for a very easy catch.
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Doosra
A doosra is a delivery bowled by spinners which turns in the opposite direction of their stock delivery.
Drop-in pitch
Economy rate
Economy rate is the rate at which a bowler concedes runs in an over. It is also referred to as Runs Per Over (RPO).
Express pace
Express pace is used for bowlers who bowl at fast speed generally at more than 150 kmph.
Farm the strike
Farm the strike or farming the strike is the process of playing the majority of the balls. This technique is usually employed when a batter is alongside a tailender. A specialist batter farms the strike to prevent the tail-ender from getting dismissed.
Flat pitch
Flat pitch or a flat track are the terms used for a pitch which is considered to be favourable for batting with no assistance for either of the fast or spin bowlers.
Flat-track bully
Flat-track bully is a term used for batters who have a history of scoring runs on flat pitches while failing to do so on other types of pitches.
Flipper
Flipper is a leg-spin delivery bowled with an under-spin decreasing its bounce.
Follow on
In a test match, a team can give follow-on to a team if they lead by a margin of 200 runs in a five-day game or 150 runs in a four-day game.
Fourth stump
A fourth stump is an imaginary stump which would have existed next to the three stumps. Bowling in the line of the fourth stump is the same as bowling in the corridor of uncertainty.
Googly
Googly is a similar delivery to a doosra. Googly is bowled by a wrist spinner to deceive the batters. A googly from a right-handed leg-spinner turns into the right-handed batter while the traditional leg spin from the same would turn away from the same batter.
Groundsman (pitch curator)
A groundsman or a pitch curator is given the job of maintaining the pitch.
Half-volley
A half-volley is a delivery which bounces right in front of the batter’s eyes which makes it easy to play on the front foot.
Handling the ball
Handling the ball is the term used when a batter touches or holds the ball in hand. Handling the ball can result in a batter getting dismissed. There are very few instances of batters being dismissed by handling the ball.
Heavy roller
There are two variations of the roller in cricket. There is a light roller and a heavy roller. The choice of which toller to be used resides with the captain of the batting team. A heavy roller is said to be used to improve batting.
Jaffa
Jaffa is a delivery which is almost unplayable delivery usually bowled by fast bowlers.
Leg-cutter
Leg cutter is a delivery which is used by the fast bowlers in death overs. It is a delivery similar to the leg but bowled by a pace bowler.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
Match Fixing
Match-fixing is done to arrange the outcome of a match making it beneficial for gamblers and bettors.
Meat of the bat
The meat of the bat is the thickest part of the bat. A shot hit from the meat of the bat is hit with great power.
Nelson
Nelson is the score which is considered to be unlucky. A score of 111 runs is considered to be Nelson while 222 runs and 333 runs are considered to be double Nelson and triple Nelson respectively.
Nipbacker
Nipbacker is a delivery that pitches outside the off stump and then deviates inside. The ball deviates using the seam of the ball.
No man’s land
No man’s land is an area where the ball lands between two or more fielders.
Nothing shot
Nothing shot is a shot which is neither an attacking shot nor a defensive leave.
Occupying the crease
Occupying the crease is a methodology applied by batters in a test match when they are batting for a draw.
Off the mark
When a batter scores their first run then they are considered to be off the mark.
Part-time bowler
A specialist batter is considered to be a part-time bowler when they bowl.
Pinch hitter
A pinch hitter (or slogger) is a lower-order batter who is promoted in the batting order to increase the batting team’s run rate.
Scramble seam
A seam-bowling variant where the bowler causes the ball’s seam plane to tumble rather than remain stable at a little angle to the delivery direction (seam up) or nearly perpendicular to the delivery direction (cross-seam).
Snickometer
A snickometer or snicko is a television image that the third umpire can also utilize to judge whether the batter nicked the ball during a replay.
Soft hands
If you want to catch the ball with soft hands, you must relax your hands and follow the motion of the ball as it flies through the air. This prevents the ball from bouncing out of your hands and allows it to strike your hands gently.
Strike rate
Batting strike rate: The batting strike rate is a mathematical calculation done to calculate the rate at which a batter is scoring their runs. It is calculated by dividing the runs scored by the balls faced and then multiplying it by 100.
Bowling strike rate: The bowling strike rate just like the batting strike rate is calculated to measure a bowler’s efficiency. It is calculated by dividing the number of wickets taken by a bowler by the total balls they bowled and then multiplying it by 100.
Umpire’s call
If the third umpire determines that the evidence is inconclusive or falls within the specified margin of error. The initial umpire’s ruling is upheld, but the review does not contribute to the team’s allotted number of unsuccessful ones.
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