Vocabulary of Cricket Sport
Contents
Cricket is a fascinating sport that has captured the attention of people worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned cricket fan or just want to improve your English speaking skills, learning the vocabulary is a must. This article will explore specialized vocabulary in-depth, illuminating the language of the cricket sport for you.
Bowling Terms
- Arm Ball: A delivery that looks like a normal off-break but goes straight instead of turning.
- Bouncer: A fast, short-pitched delivery aimed at the batter's head or upper body.
- Doosra: An off-spinner's delivery that spins away from the batter instead of turning into them.
- Googly: A leg-spinner's delivery that spins in the opposite direction to the normal leg-break.
- Inswinger: A delivery that moves towards the batter in the air or off the pitch.
- Leg Break: A delivery that spins from the leg side towards the off side for a right-handed batter.
- Maiden Over: An over in which the batter scores no runs.
- Off Break: A delivery that spins from the off side towards the leg side for a right-handed batter.
- Slower Ball: A delivery bowled slower to deceive the batter.
- Wicket: The area behind the batter where the stumps are located.
Batting Terms
- Century: When a batter scores 100 runs individually in an inning.
- Crease: The lines marked at both ends of the pitch where the batter stands.
- Drive: A shot played by the batter by hitting the ball along the ground with a straight bat.
- Edge: When the ball touches the edge of the bat while the batter attempts to play a shot.
- Extras: Runs scored that are not attributed to the batter, such as wides, no-balls, and byes.
- Flick: A shot played by the batter using their wrists to guide the ball toward a particular direction.
- Hook: A shot played by the batter, hitting the ball that is above the shoulder level towards the leg side.
- Six: When the batter hits the ball beyond the boundary without bouncing, scoring six runs.
- Stumped: When the wicketkeeper dismisses the batter by removing the bails while the batter is out of the crease.
- Sweep: A shot played by the batter on one knee, hitting the ball towards the leg side.
- Uppercut: A shot played by the batter, hitting the ball with an angled bat towards the third-man region.
- Yorker: A delivery aimed at the batter's toes or base of the stumps.
Fielding Terms
- Catch: When a fielder successfully grabs the ball after the batter has hit it without bouncing.
- Deep Fielder: A fielder positioned near the boundary to stop the ball from crossing the boundary line.
- Gully: A fielding position close to the slips, on the offside, between the slips and the point.
- Overthrow: An additional run or runs scored by the batting team due to a fielding error.
- Slip: A fielding position behind the batter on the off side, close to the wicketkeeper.
- Square Leg: A fielding position on the leg side, approximately square to the batter.
- Silly Point: A fielding position close to the batter, on the offside, near the popping crease.
- Stump: One of the three vertical posts the batter must defend to avoid being dismissed.
- Throw: When a fielder returns the ball to the wicketkeeper or another fielder.
- Run Out: When the fielding team hits the stumps with the ball while the batter is attempting to complete a run.
- Wicketkeeper: The player who stands behind the stumps and is responsible for catching the ball and stumping the batter.
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Scoring Terms
- Bye: Runs awarded to the batting team when the ball passes the batter and the wicketkeeper.
- Declared: When the batting team captain decides to end their team's innings before all batters are dismissed.
- Dot Ball: A delivery from the bowler in which the batter fails to score any runs.
- Innings: The period during which a team bats until they are dismissed or declare their innings.
- Leg Bye: Runs awarded to the batting team when the ball hits the batter's body or equipment and deflects away.
- Not Out: When the umpire rules that the batter is not dismissed.
- Over: A set of six legal deliveries bowled by a bowler.
- Run: The basic unit of scoring in cricket achieved, when the batters complete a run between the wickets.
- Wide: A delivery that is too far away from the batter to be considered a fair delivery, resulting in an extra run for the batting team.
- Boundary: The edge of the playing field that results in scoring four runs if the ball crosses it without bouncing.
- Follow-On: When a team batting second is asked to bat again immediately after their first innings.
- Maiden: An over in which the batter scores no runs.
- No-Ball: A delivery that is deemed illegal due to the bowler overstepping the crease or for other technical reasons, resulting in an extra run for the batting team.
- Run Rate: The average number of runs scored per over by the batting team.
- Scoreboard: The display board that shows the current score, number of wickets, and other relevant information.
Decision-Making Terms
- Appeal: A request made by the fielding team to the umpire for a batter's dismissal.
- DRS (Decision Review System): A technology-based system that allows teams to challenge the umpire's decision.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket): A dismissal in which the ball hits the batter's leg before hitting the bat, and the umpire deems it would have hit the stumps.
- Umpire: The officials responsible for making decisions, enforcing the laws, and ensuring fair play during a cricket match.
- Third Umpire: An additional umpire who reviews decisions using television replays and assists the on-field umpires in making accurate calls.
- Out: When a batter is dismissed and must leave the field.
Cricket Player's Equipment
- Bat: The wooden implement used by the batter to hit the ball.
- Ball: The hard, leather-covered object used in the game.
- Stumps: Three vertical wooden posts that the batter must defend.
- Bails: The small wooden pieces that sit on top of the stumps.
- Pads: Protective gear worn by the batter to shield their legs.
- Gloves: Protective gloves worn by the batter to grip the bat and protect their hands.
- Helmet: A protective headgear worn by batsmen and fielders close to the batter.
- Guard: A protective cup worn by the batter to protect the groin area.
- Fielding Cap: A cap worn by fielders to shield their eyes from the sun.
- Arm Guard: A protective guard worn by the batter on their forearm.
- Thigh Guard: A protective guard worn by the batter on their thighs.
- Abdominal Guard: A protective guard worn by the batter on their abdomen.
- Spikes: Specialized shoes worn by players to provide better traction on the field.
- Protective Glasses: Eyewear worn by players to protect their eyes from the ball.
- Bag: A large bag players use to carry their equipment and personal items.
Popular Idioms Related to Cricket
Cricket is a captivating sport with its rich vocabulary and intricacies. By familiarizing yourself with this cricket slang, you'll communicate better in everyday situations.
- Caught off guard: Surprised or unprepared for a situation.
- Hit for six: Overwhelmed or defeated by a powerful force or event.
- On a sticky wicket: In a difficult or precarious situation.
- Play a straight bat: Be honest and fair in your dealings.
- Out of left field: Unexpected or coming from an unexpected direction.
- Hit a sixer: To achieve great success or accomplish something remarkable.
- Call the shots: To be in control and make important decisions.
Tune in to a match, and let the language of cricket transport you into the world of this beloved sport.
Conclusion
From bowling and batting to fielding, scoring, and decision-making, now you have the vocabulary of cricket explained. Your experience of the game and ability to follow the action will benefit from your familiarity with these phrases. Whether you're a seasoned cricket fan or just getting started, this dictionary will get you up to speed on the vocabulary of the gentleman's game.
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