Cricket A–Z

Glossary

Every cricket term used across CricScience, defined in plain English. Tap a letter to jump.

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 Z

A8 terms

abduction: Moving a limb away from the body's midline.
adduction: Moving a limb back toward the body's midline.
aerodynamics: How air flowing around the ball changes its flight.
all-rounder: A player good enough at both batting and bowling to be picked for either.
angular momentum: The spinning version of momentum — a fast-spinning ball keeps spinning.
anticipation: Reading cues (bowler's grip, field) to predict what happens next.
appeal: The fielding side shouting 'Howzat?' to ask the umpire if the batter is out.
arm ball: A finger-spinner's ball that goes straight on with the angle instead of turning.

B27 terms

back foot: The batter's foot closer to the stumps when playing the shot.
back foot contact: When the bowler's back foot lands before the front foot in the delivery stride.
back foot movement: Weight and foot going back and across to play short balls.
back-foot defence: A safe back-foot block to a short-of-length ball.
back-of-the-hand slower ball: Slower ball released with the palm facing the batter — dips late.
back-spin: Backward spin that makes the ball skid on lower and slower.
bails: The two small wooden pieces sitting on top of the stumps.
balance point: The point along the bat where it balances — affects perceived weight.
balance position: A stable, low crouch that lets the keeper move in any direction.
ball tracking: Technology that predicts the ball's path — key input for LBW reviews.
bat back: The curved rear of the blade — its shape affects pickup and balance.
bat face: The flat hitting surface of the bat.
batting average: Runs scored per dismissal by a batter — higher is better.
bazball: England's modern ultra-attacking Test approach under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.
beamer: A full ball that reaches the batter on the full above waist height. Illegal if intentional.
bounce: How high the ball comes off the pitch.
bouncer: A short ball that bounces up around the batter's chest or head.
bound: The bowler's leap between run-up and delivery stride.
boundary: Ball reaching or crossing the rope. 4 runs along the ground, 6 in the air.
boundary layer: The thin layer of air right on the ball's surface where swing is decided.
boundary percentage: Share of runs scored in fours and sixes.
bowling average: Runs conceded per wicket by a bowler — lower is better.
bowling load: Total number of balls a bowler has bowled over a period.
braced front leg: A stiff, straight front leg on landing that converts run-up energy into ball speed.
bracing leg: The front leg holding firm on delivery so energy is passed to the ball.
bumper: Another word for a bouncer — a short, rising delivery.
byes: Runs scored when the ball misses both the bat and the batter's body.

C25 terms

carrom: A spin ball flicked out using the middle finger like a carrom striker. Can turn either way.
carrom ball: A spin ball flicked out using the middle finger like a carrom striker.
carry: How well the ball travels through to the keeper — usually a sign of a lively pitch.
chinaman: A left-arm wrist-spinner's stock ball — to a right-hander it turns from off to leg.
choking under pressure: Performing worse in high-stakes moments than in practice.
clay: Type of soil that binds the pitch — high clay content gives bounce and durability.
closed grip: Bat face slightly closed — helps play through the leg side.
closed stance: Stance turned toward the leg side.
collection: The moment the keeper takes the ball cleanly into the gloves.
compaction: How tightly the pitch soil is packed — affects pace and bounce.
concentration: Sustained mental focus on the ball, ball after ball.
cone drill: Footwork or fielding drill using cones as targets or gates.
confidence: Trusting your preparation and skills under pressure.
control percentage: How often a batter played the ball as intended.
conventional grip: Standard batting grip — hands close together, Vs of thumb and index aligned down the splice.
conventional swing: Swing produced with a newer ball — the shiny side stays out.
core: The cork-and-string centre of a cricket ball.
cover: Off-side fielder between point and mid-off.
cover drive: A classical front-foot shot played through the off-side, between cover and mid-off.
cracks: Splits in the pitch that can cause variable bounce as the match goes on.
crease: The white lines at each end of the pitch — they define the batter's safe zone and the bowler's legal landing area.
cross seam: Ball released with the seam across the direction of travel — random bounce off the pitch.
crow hop: A little hop-step before throwing that adds power and accuracy.
cut: A back-foot horizontal-bat shot square on the off side.
cutter: A finger-rolled ball from a fast bowler — slower and deviates off the pitch.

D18 terms

dead ball: A ball that counts for no play — for example after a wicket or a stoppage.
death overs: The last few overs of a limited-overs innings — usually attacking batting and defensive bowling.
decision making: Choosing the right shot or delivery under time pressure.
deep cover: A boundary fielder in the cover region.
deep midwicket: A boundary fielder in the midwicket region.
dip: Sudden downward drop of a well-spun ball, usually from top-spin.
direct hit: Throw from the outfield that hits the stumps directly for a run-out.
dive: Full-length stretch to stop or catch a ball.
diving collection: Keeper dives to take a ball wide of the body.
doosra: An off-spinner's surprise ball that turns the other way — away from a right-hander.
dot ball: A legal delivery on which no runs are scored.
dot ball percentage: Percentage of a bowler's balls on which no runs are scored.
drag: Air resistance that slows the ball down.
drift: Sideways movement of a spin bowler's ball in the air, before pitching.
drs: Decision Review System — teams can challenge an on-field umpire's call using technology.
dry pitch: Pitch with little moisture — usually helps spinners as the game goes on.
dukes: An English cricket ball with a pronounced seam — known for assisting swing for long periods.
dusty pitch: Very dry, worn pitch where the top surface breaks up — big turn.

E7 terms

economy rate: Runs conceded per over by a bowler.
edge: The narrow side of the bat blade — where snicks come from.
expected runs: A model-estimated runs value for a batting spell, given match conditions.
expected wickets: A model-estimated wickets value for a bowling spell.
extension: Straightening a joint.
external rotation: Turning a limb outward — used in the loading phase of bowling.
extras: Runs not scored off the bat — wides, no-balls, byes, leg-byes and penalty runs.

F20 terms

fair delivery: A ball bowled legally under the Laws of Cricket.
false shot percentage: How often a batter misses, edges or mistimes — a control metric.
fast bowling: Bowling above ~140 kph — pace, bounce and hostility are the main weapons.
fast medium: Just below express pace, roughly 130–140 kph.
fine leg: Deep fielder behind square on the leg side.
finger spin: Spin generated by rolling the fingers over the ball (off-spin, left-arm orthodox).
flexion: Bending a joint (elbow, knee, wrist).
flick: A wristy shot off the pads to the leg side.
flipper: A leg-spinner's skiddy ball that stays low and rushes onto the batter.
follow-on: In Tests, the side batting first can make the trailing side bat again if they lead by 200+ runs.
follow-through: The bowler's deceleration after releasing the ball.
foot shuffle: Small quick steps used to reposition without overcommitting.
foot strike: The moment the foot hits the ground — its pattern affects load and injury.
force: A push or pull that changes an object's motion.
forward defence: A safe front-foot block to a good-length ball.
forward press: A small step forward as the bowler releases — helps against fuller lengths.
free hit: The next ball after a no-ball — the batter can't be bowled or caught out (only run-out).
front foot: The batter's foot closer to the bowler when playing the shot.
front foot contact: When the bowler's front foot lands at the crease during delivery.
full toss: A ball that reaches the batter without bouncing.

G10 terms

gather: The moment the bowler collects the ball into the delivery position before jumping.
gather-to-throw: Efficient transition from catching the ball to releasing a throw.
glove position: How the gloves are angled to receive the ball cleanly.
good length: The sweet spot to bowl on — not too short, not too full. Hard for the batter to decide front or back foot.
googly: A leg-spinner's surprise ball that turns the OTHER way — into a right-hander instead of away.
grains: The visible growth lines on the willow — a rough guide to bat quality.
grass cover: How much live grass is on the pitch — more cover means more seam.
green pitch: Pitch with a covering of grass — seam and swing bowlers love it.
grip pattern: Sole design that provides traction on grass or synthetic surfaces.
gully: Catching fielder a bit wider than slip.

H11 terms

half-volley: A ball that lands close to the batter — easy to drive.
handle: The gripped part of the bat above the splice.
hard pitch: Firm, compacted surface — bounce and carry, generally good for batting.
heel drop: Height difference between heel and forefoot of a shoe — affects landing forces.
helicopter shot: A flick of the wrists where the bat finishes spinning above the head — Dhoni's trademark.
high catch: A skied catch — judged under the flight of the ball.
hip drive: Explosive extension of the hip that powers throws and bowling.
hip rotation: Turning of the pelvis that transfers force through the trunk.
hit wicket: Batter dismissed for knocking off the bails with bat or body while playing.
hook: A cross-bat shot to a bouncer, often played in the air behind square leg.
hook shot: Like a pull, but to a higher bouncer — often aerial.

I6 terms

impulse: Force × time — how a bat transfers energy to the ball at impact.
innings: One team's turn to bat. Each innings ends when 10 wickets fall or the overs run out.
inswing: The ball curves into a right-handed batter in the air.
inswing yorker: A yorker that swings into the batter late — targets the base of the stumps.
internal rotation: Turning a limb inward toward the body's midline — key for fast bowling.
ipl: Indian Premier League — the world's biggest T20 franchise league.

K5 terms

keeper: Short for wicket-keeper.
kinetic energy: Energy of motion — grows with the square of speed.
knee flexion: Bending of the knee — a shock absorber on landing.
knuckle ball: A slower ball gripped with the knuckles — comes out with almost no spin and dips.
kookaburra: A machine-stitched cricket ball used in Australia, NZ and most ODIs/T20s — goes soft sooner.

L15 terms

laminar flow: Smooth, layered airflow — associated with early swing on a shiny ball.
landing angle: The angle at which the front foot strikes the ground on delivery stride.
late cut: A delicate cut played very late, steering the ball behind point.
lbw: Leg Before Wicket — out if the ball would have hit the stumps but the batter's leg got in the way (with conditions).
leather: The outer cover of a cricket ball, stitched around a cork core.
leg byes: Runs scored when the ball hits the batter's body (not the bat) after they tried to play it.
leg cutter: Fast-bowler's cutter that moves from leg to off after pitching.
leg slip: A slip-style catcher on the leg side of the keeper.
leg-break: A leg-spinner's stock ball — turns away from a right-hander.
leg-side collection: Keeper moving across to gather a delivery down the leg side.
leg-spin: Wrist spin that turns the ball AWAY from a right-handed batter.
lift: Aerodynamic force at right angles to the flight path — makes the ball rise or dip.
long barrier: Kneeling technique to stop a ball with body behind the hands.
long-off: Deep straight fielder on the off side.
long-on: Deep straight fielder on the leg side.

M13 terms

magnus effect: Sideways force on a spinning ball caused by uneven air pressure — makes it curve.
maiden over: An over in which no runs are scored off the bat (byes/leg-byes still count as maiden).
mankad: Run-out at the non-striker's end when they leave the crease before the ball is bowled.
match awareness: Understanding the score, overs, field and momentum in real time.
medium fast: Faster medium pacer, roughly 125–135 kph.
medium pace: Bowling around 115–130 kph, using seam and swing rather than raw speed.
mid-off: Straight-ish fielder on the off side, in front of the batter.
mid-on: Straight-ish fielder on the leg side, in front of the batter.
mid-wicket: Leg-side fielder between square leg and mid-on.
midwicket: Leg-side fielder between square leg and mid-on.
moisture: Water in the pitch — helps seam and swing early, dries out later.
moment of inertia: How hard it is to change something's spin — depends on mass and shape.
momentum: Mass × velocity — how hard something is to stop.

N3 terms

net session: Practice in an enclosed net — batting, bowling or both.
neutral stance: A balanced stance between open and closed.
no-ball: An illegal delivery — usually because the bowler overstepped. Costs a run and gives a free hit in white-ball cricket.

O13 terms

obstructing the field: Batter dismissed for deliberately blocking a fielder.
odi: One Day International — 50 overs per side.
off cutter: Fast-bowler's cutter that moves from off to leg after pitching.
off-break: An off-spinner's stock ball — turns in to a right-hander.
off-spin: Finger spin that, for a right-handed bowler, turns the ball INTO a right-handed batter.
on drive: Front-foot drive played between mid-on and mid-wicket.
one-handed catch: A catch taken with a single hand, often diving.
open grip: Bat face slightly open at address — helps play through the off side.
open stance: Batting/bowling stance turned toward the off side.
outswing: The ball curves away from a right-handed batter in the air.
outswing yorker: A yorker that swings away — hard to reach and can take the outside edge.
over: A set of six legal balls bowled from one end.
overarm throw: A full over-the-top throw — most power and range.

P14 terms

pace: How quickly the ball comes on to the bat off the pitch.
paddle sweep: A sweep played fine — the ball is deflected behind square leg.
pelvic tilt: The angle of the pelvis — affects balance and force transfer.
pickup: How the bat feels when you lift it — related to swing weight.
pitch: The 22-yard strip in the middle of the ground where bowling and batting happen.
pitch map: A chart showing where a bowler's deliveries pitched.
point: Fielder square on the off side.
powerplay: Overs at the start of an innings with fielding restrictions, encouraging boundaries.
powerplay efficiency: How well a team uses the field restrictions in powerplay overs.
pressure difference: Unequal air pressure on two sides of the ball — the source of swing.
progression drill: A drill that gets harder step by step as the player masters each stage.
pronation: Rotating the forearm so the palm faces down — happens after release for pace bowlers.
pull: A cross-bat shot to a short ball, hit through the leg side.
pull shot: A cross-bat shot to a short ball, hit hard through the leg side.

R14 terms

ramp: Batter steers a short ball up and over the keeper or slips.
reaction drill: Fast-response drill for catching or keeping — improves reflexes.
reading the bowler: Picking clues from grip, action and seam to guess the delivery.
recovery session: Light session focused on rest, mobility and physio work.
relay catch: One fielder taps the ball up and another completes the catch — common on the boundary.
release point: The exact height and position where the ball leaves the bowler's hand.
retired out: Batter chooses to retire and is recorded as out.
reverse cup: Glove position with fingers pointing up — used for balls above the waist.
reverse pickup: Picking up the ball with the throwing hand on the wrong side of the body — saves a step.
reverse sweep: A sweep played by turning the bat face the opposite way.
reverse swing: Late, opposite-direction swing that happens with an older, roughed-up ball.
rough side: The scuffed side of the ball — critical for reverse swing.
rpm: Revolutions per minute — how fast a bowler spins the ball.
run-up: The bowler's approach to the crease before releasing the ball.

S44 terms

scoop: Batter helps the ball over their own head toward fine leg.
scrambled seam: Similar to cross-seam — bowler deliberately unsettles the seam to unsettle bounce.
seam: The stitched ridge on a cricket ball. Also: the sideways movement off the pitch when the ball lands on it.
seam movement: Sideways deviation off the pitch caused by the ball landing on its seam.
seam position: How the seam is angled when the ball is released — controls swing and seam movement.
seam presentation: How upright and stable the seam is when the ball leaves the hand.
sg ball: An Indian hand-stitched ball used in home Tests — keeps its seam shape longer.
shadow practice: Rehearsing an action without a ball to groove the movement.
shine: The polished side of the ball that helps it swing.
short ball: A ball pitched closer to the bowler, bouncing up around chest height.
short leg: A very close catcher on the leg side, in front of square.
shuffle: A small sideways step across the crease before the ball arrives.
side spinner: A ball spinning on a horizontal axis — turns sideways with minimal dip.
side-on: Bowling action where the back foot lands parallel to the crease — shoulders side-on.
sidearm throw: A whipped throw with the arm coming from the side — quick release.
silly point: A very close catching fielder square on the off side.
slide stop: Sliding on the hip to intercept a ball travelling to the boundary.
slider: A wrist-spinner's variation that skids on with under-spin instead of turning.
slip: Catching fielder beside the wicket-keeper, waiting for edges.
slip catch: A reaction catch taken by a slip fielder.
slog sweep: A high, powerful sweep hit over midwicket.
soft hands: Giving with the ball at impact so it doesn't bounce out.
soft pitch: Under-prepared or damp pitch — slow, low bounce.
spikes: Studs on the sole of cricket shoes for grip.
spin axis: The imaginary line the ball spins around — controls how it dips, drifts and turns.
spin bowling: Slow bowling that uses revolutions on the ball to grip the pitch and turn.
splice: The V-shaped join between the handle and the blade.
split finger: A slower ball gripped between splayed index and middle fingers — dips.
square cut: A cut hit square of the wicket on the off side.
square leg: Fielder square on the leg side.
standing back: Keeper standing deep, usually to fast bowlers.
standing up: Keeper standing close to the stumps, usually to spinners or slow medium.
stitching: The thread joining the ball's two halves — the raised seam.
straight drive: Front-foot drive played straight back past the bowler.
strike rate: For batters: runs per 100 balls. For bowlers: balls per wicket.
strong bottom hand: Batting grip variation with a firmer bottom hand — helps power hitting.
stumping: Keeper whips the bails off while the batter is out of the crease.
stumps: The three wooden poles at each end of the pitch.
super over: A one-over-per-side tiebreaker used when a limited-overs match is tied.
supination: Rotating the forearm so the palm faces up — the leg-spinner's release.
sweep: Batter goes down on one knee and hits across the line toward leg side.
sweet spot: The area on the bat that transfers the most energy to the ball with the least vibration.
swing: When a new-ish ball curves sideways in the air before pitching.
switch hit: Batter swaps their grip and stance at the last second to bat the other way around.

T17 terms

t20: Twenty20 — 20 overs per side, the shortest international format.
take position: The keeper's crouched, balanced set position before the ball is bowled.
target bowling: Practising by aiming at a specific mark or object on a length.
teesra: A rare off-spin variation that doesn't turn at all — slides on straight.
test: A multi-day international format — up to five days, two innings per side.
third man: Deep fielder behind square on the off side.
throwdown: A coach throws balls from a shorter distance to simulate pace in practice.
timed out: Batter dismissed for not being ready to face within the time limit.
toe: The bottom tip of the bat blade.
toe alignment: Direction the toes point on landing — affects hip and shoulder rotation.
toe crusher: A yorker aimed at the base of the leg stump — hunts the toes.
top spinner: A leg-spinner's ball with heavy top-spin — dips fast and bounces steeply.
top-spin: Forward spin that makes the ball dip earlier and bounce higher.
torque: The rotational equivalent of force — makes things spin.
toss: Coin flip before the match. The winning captain chooses to bat or bowl first.
trigger movement: A pre-delivery weight shift that gets the batter moving before the ball is released.
turbulent flow: Chaotic airflow that clings to the ball longer — key to reverse swing.

U3 terms

ultraedge: Real-time audio-and-video tool that detects tiny edges during DRS.
underarm throw: A low, quick flick used when close to the stumps.
upper cut: A short ball ramped over the slips with a vertical bat.

V1 term

visual tracking: Following the ball with the eyes from hand to bat.

W12 terms

wagon wheel: A visual chart showing where a batter has scored runs.
wake region: The turbulent air trailing behind the ball — its shape decides swing direction.
wicket: Can mean three things: (1) the three stumps + two bails, (2) a batter getting out, (3) the pitch itself.
wicket-keeper: The fielder behind the stumps, wearing gloves.
wide: A ball too far from the batter to hit. Counts as one run to the batting side.
wide yorker: A yorker aimed outside off stump so the batter can't get under it.
wobble seam: Seam wobbles in flight so the batter can't predict which way it will seam.
workload management: Balancing training and match load to prevent injury.
wpl: Women's Premier League — India's top women's T20 franchise league.
wrist snap: Flicking the wrist at release to add revolutions and control.
wrist spin: Spin generated by flicking the wrist (leg-spin, googly, chinaman).
wrong'un: Australian word for a googly.

Y2 terms

yorker: A ball aimed to land right at the batter's toes — very hard to hit cleanly.
yorker_length: Right at the batter's feet.

Z1 term

zooter: Shane Warne's near-flipper variation that slides on low, sometimes called a slider.