GlossaryOct 26, 20266 min read
Cricket Glossary: 40 Terms Every Fan Should Know
Commentators speak a language of their own. Keep this list handy and every broadcast will make sense.
Batting terms
Duck: out for zero. Golden duck: out first ball. Century: 100 runs by one batter. Half-century: 50 runs. Boundary: a four or a six. Strike: facing the bowler. Nightwatchman: a lower-order batter sent in late in the day to protect the main batters. Anchor: a batter who builds the innings steadily.
Bowling terms
Maiden: an over with no runs. Wicket maiden: a maiden that also takes a wicket. Yorker: a ball pitched at the batter's feet. Bouncer: a short ball aimed at head or chest height. Googly: a leg spinner's ball that turns the other way. Doosra: an off spinner's ball that turns away from the right-handed batter. Spell: a run of overs by one bowler.
Fielding and umpiring terms
Slip: a close catching position behind the batter. Gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, midwicket, square leg and fine leg: fielding positions around the field. DRS: the Decision Review System. Umpire's call: a marginal review where the on-field decision stands.
Match terms
Innings: a team's turn to bat. Declaration: a captain ends their own innings. Follow-on: a team that trails heavily bats again straight away. Target: the runs needed to win a chase. Net run rate: a tie-break in tournaments. Super over: a one-over eliminator after a tie.
Quick answers
What is a duck in cricket?
A batter dismissed without scoring.
What is a yorker?
A delivery that pitches right under the batter's bat or toes, hard to hit.