A - Z Cricket Terms
An beginners A-Z guide of cricket terms
18 Nov 2025
🏏 A Beginners A to Z Guide
of Cricket Terms
- A - All-rounder: A player adept at both batting and bowling.
- B - Bails: The two small wooden pieces that sit on top of the stumps to form the wicket.
- C - Century: An individual score of 100 runs or more by a batter in a single innings.
- D - Duck: When a batter is dismissed without scoring any runs.
- E - Economy Rate: A statistic for a bowler showing the average number of runs they concede per over.
- F - Four: A shot that reaches the boundary after touching the ground, scoring four runs.
- G - Googly: A deceptive delivery by a leg-spin bowler that turns the opposite way (into a right-handed batter).
- H - Hat-trick: When a bowler takes three wickets with three consecutive deliveries.
- I - Innings: One of the two (or four, in Test cricket) divisions of a match during which one team bats.
- J - Jaffa: Slang for an exceptional delivery that is virtually unplayable by the batter.
- K - Knock: Another term for a batter's turn at the crease or their individual score.
- L - LBW: Short for Leg Before Wicket, a method of dismissal where the ball is illegally blocked by the batter's leg/pad.
- M - Maiden Over: An over (six balls) in which the batter scores zero runs.
- N - No-Ball: An illegal delivery by the bowler (e.g., overstepping the crease), resulting in a penalty run and an extra ball.
- O - Over: A set of six balls bowled by one bowler, after which a different bowler bowls from the opposite end.
- P - Pitch: The central 22-yard long strip of the playing area between the two wickets.
- Q - Quicky: Slang for a fast bowler.
- R - Run Out: A method of dismissal when a batter is attempting a run but a fielder breaks the wicket before they reach the crease.
- S - Six: A shot that clears the boundary rope in the air without bouncing, scoring six runs.
- T - Test Match: The longest and most traditional format of cricket, typically played over five days.
- U - Umpire: An official who presides over the match, makes decisions, and ensures the laws are followed.
- V - Verdict: The decision made by the umpire, especially on an appeal.
- W - Wicket: 1. The set of three stumps and two bails. 2. The pitch. 3. A dismissal.
- X - Xtra (Extras): Runs not scored off the bat, such as Wides, No-Balls, Byes, and Leg-Byes.
- Y - Yorker: A fast delivery that is pitched directly onto the ground right at the batter's feet.
- Z - Zooter: An uncommon term for a non-turning delivery bowled by a leg-spin bowler.
