ARMAGH CRICKET CLUB ACADEMY - Our Complete Cricket Glossary
An A–Z Guide to Cricket Terms, Skills, Positions, Equipment and Match Terminology
Our Complete Cricket Glossary
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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
A
All-Rounder
A player who contributes significantly with both bat and ball.
Appeal
A request made by fielding players asking the umpire to decide whether a batter is out.
Arm Ball
A delivery bowled by a spinner that travels straight on rather than turning.
Attacking Field
A field placement designed primarily to create wicket-taking opportunities.
B
Back Foot Shot
A batting stroke played from the back foot, often against shorter deliveries.
Bail
One of the two wooden pieces resting on top of the stumps.
Batter
The player attempting to score runs for their team.
Boundary
The edge of the playing area. A ball reaching the boundary scores four runs; clearing it without bouncing scores six.
Bouncer
A short-pitched delivery that rises sharply towards the batter.
Bowling Crease
The line associated with the bowler’s delivery stride and legal delivery.
Bye
Runs scored when the ball passes the batter and wicketkeeper without contact from bat or body.
C
Captain
The leader of the team responsible for tactics and decision-making.
Carrying the Bat
When an opening batter remains not out throughout an entire innings.
Catch
A dismissal completed when a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground.
Century
A score of 100 runs or more by a batter in a single innings.
Cover
A fielding position on the off side.
Cover Drive
A front-foot shot played through the cover region.
Crease
Lines marked on the pitch that define safe areas for batters and bowlers.
D
Dead Ball
A ball that is no longer considered in play.
Declaration
When a captain voluntarily closes their team’s innings.
Deep Field
Fielding positions close to the boundary.
Diamond Duck
Dismissal without facing a ball.
Dot Ball
A legal delivery from which no runs are scored.
Duck
Dismissal without scoring.
E
Edge
Contact with the side of the bat rather than the middle.
Economy Rate
Average runs conceded per over by a bowler.
End
One end of the cricket pitch, often named after a pavilion or landmark.
Extras
Runs awarded that are not credited to a batter.
F
Fielder
Any member of the fielding team.
Fine Leg
A fielding position behind square on the leg side.
Follow-On
A situation where a team bats again immediately after its first innings in multi-day cricket.
Front Foot Shot
A batting stroke played with weight transferred forward.
Full Toss
A delivery reaching the batter without bouncing.
G
Googly
A leg-spinner’s delivery that turns opposite to a normal leg break.
Golden Duck
Dismissal from the first ball faced.
Good Length
A delivery length that makes shot selection difficult for the batter.
Gully
A fielding position between slips and point.
H
Half Volley
A delivery pitching close enough to the batter to invite a drive.
Hat-Trick
Three wickets taken from three consecutive deliveries by the same bowler.
Helmet
Protective headgear worn by batters and close fielders.
Hook Shot
An attacking shot played against a short-pitched delivery.
I
Innings
A team’s turn to bat.
Inswinger
A delivery that swings into the batter.
Inside Edge
When the ball contacts the bat and deflects towards the batter’s body or leg side.
J
Junior Cricket
Cricket designed for younger players, often using modified formats and rules.
K
Keeper
Informal term for the wicketkeeper.
Knock
An innings played by a batter.
L
Leg Break
A spinning delivery that turns from leg side to off side for a right-handed batter.
Leg Bye
Runs scored after the ball strikes the batter’s body rather than the bat.
Leg Slip
A catching position behind the batter on the leg side.
Long Off
A boundary fielding position directly behind the bowler on the off side.
Long On
A boundary fielding position directly behind the bowler on the leg side.
LBW (Leg Before Wicket)
A method of dismissal where the batter’s body prevents the ball from hitting the stumps.
M
Maiden Over
An over in which no runs are scored from the bat or extras.
Mid-Off
A fielding position on the off side close to the bowler.
Mid-On
A fielding position on the leg side close to the bowler.
Midwicket
A fielding position between square leg and mid-on.
N
Nets
Practice sessions using cricket nets.
No Ball
An illegal delivery that results in an extra run and often a free hit in limited-overs cricket.
Non-Striker
The batter at the opposite end from the striker.
O
Off Break
A spinning delivery turning from off side to leg side for a right-handed batter.
Off Side
The half of the field in front of the batter when taking guard.
Opening Batter
One of the first two batters in the batting order.
Outswinger
A delivery that swings away from the batter.
Over
A set of six legal deliveries.
P
Partnership
Runs scored while two batters remain together.
Pitch
The central playing strip between the wickets.
Point
A fielding position square on the off side.
Powerplay
A period in limited-overs cricket with fielding restrictions.
Pull Shot
An attacking shot played against a short-pitched ball.
Q
Quick Single
A rapidly completed single run requiring good communication.
R
Run Out
A dismissal achieved by breaking the stumps before a batter makes their ground.
Run Rate
Average runs scored per over.
Reverse Sweep
A sweep shot played with reversed hand positioning.
S
Seam
The raised stitched ridge around the cricket ball.
Silly Point
A close-catching position in front of the batter on the off side.
Single
One run completed by the batters.
Six
A shot that clears the boundary without bouncing.
Slip
A catching position behind the batter.
Square Leg
A fielding position square on the leg side.
Stumping
A dismissal completed by the wicketkeeper while the batter is out of their crease.
Swing Bowling
Bowling that causes the ball to move through the air.
T
Tailender
A lower-order batter.
Third Man
A boundary fielding position behind the slips.
Toss
The coin toss that determines which team bats or fields first.
Twenty20 (T20)
A format in which each team faces a maximum of 20 overs.
U
Umpire
The official responsible for applying the Laws of Cricket and making decisions.
V
Variation
A delivery that differs from a bowler’s stock ball.
W
Wagon Wheel
A graphic showing where a batter has scored runs.
Wicket
Can mean the stumps, a dismissal, or the pitch itself depending on context.
Wicketkeeper
The specialist fielder positioned behind the stumps.
Wide
A delivery judged too far from the batter to be played fairly.
X
X-Factor Player
An informal term for a player capable of changing a match unexpectedly.
Y
Yorker
A delivery aimed at the batter’s feet or base of the stumps.
Z
Zooter
A rare spin bowling variation that skids through with little or no turn.
Final Thoughts
Cricket has one of the richest vocabularies in sport. Understanding its language can make the game more enjoyable, more accessible and easier to follow for players, parents, coaches, volunteers and supporters alike.
At Armagh Cricket Club Academy, we believe that learning the language of cricket is part of becoming a confident participant in the game.
Whether you are taking your first steps into cricket or have been involved for many years, we hope this glossary helps you better understand and enjoy the sport we love.