Cricket glossary: key terms explained for new fans

Cricket has a language all its own. This cricket glossary explains the key terms in plain English, so a newcomer — or a football fan giving cricket a go — can follow any match with confidence.

Batting terms

• Duck: out without scoring a run.
• Century: 100 runs by a single batter.
• Strike rate: runs scored per 100 balls faced.

Bowling terms

• Yorker: a ball aimed at the batter's feet, tough to hit.
• Googly: a wrist-spinner's surprise ball that turns the other way.
• Maiden: an over with no runs conceded.

Match and field terms

• Powerplay: early overs with fielding restrictions.
• LBW: leg before wicket — out if the ball would have hit the stumps.
• All-rounder: a player strong at both batting and bowling.

Why a glossary helps

Keep this cricket glossary handy during a game and the commentary suddenly makes sense. Once the terms click, the strategy of cricket becomes far more enjoyable.

More guides

See our beginner guides in Explainers, including the difference between Test, ODI and T20.

Fielding positions

• Slip: stands beside the wicketkeeper to catch edges.
• Gully: next to the slips, squarer of the wicket.
• Point & cover: on the off side, saving runs square and in front.
• Mid-on & mid-off: straight down the ground.
• Fine leg & square leg: on the leg side, for glances and pulls.
• Long-on & long-off: on the boundary for big hits.

More bowling terms

• Bouncer: a short ball that rears up at the batter.
• Full toss: a ball that reaches the batter without bouncing.
• Doosra: an off-spinner's ball that turns the other way.
• Economy rate: runs conceded per over.
• Hat-trick: three wickets in three consecutive balls.

Match situation terms

• Required run rate: runs per over the chasing team needs.
• Nightwatchman: a lower-order batter sent in late in the day in Tests.
• Follow-on: when the trailing team is made to bat again in a Test.
• Super Over: a one-over tie-breaker in limited-overs cricket.

FAQ

What is LBW again? Out if the ball would have hit the stumps and struck the pad first (with conditions). What is a googly? A wrist-spinner's surprise ball that turns the opposite way. Why keep a glossary handy? Once the terms click, the strategy of cricket becomes far more enjoyable to follow.

Batting shots worth knowing

• Cover drive: an elegant stroke through the off side.
• Pull & hook: attacking shots against short balls on the leg side.
• Sweep: a low shot against spin, played on one knee.
• Reverse sweep & switch hit: modern innovations that turn the field around.

Formats in one line each

Remember the three formats: Test is up to five days and the ultimate skill test; ODI is 50 overs a side and the World Cup format; T20 is 20 overs of fast, explosive cricket that powers the IPL. Each rewards slightly different techniques, which is why some players specialise.

Using this glossary

Keep these terms handy during your first few matches and the commentary quickly starts to make sense. Once the vocabulary clicks, you will notice the tactics — field placements, bowling changes and batting intent — that make cricket such a rich, strategic game.

Putting it all together

Learning the language of cricket transforms how you watch it. Once you recognise field placements, bowling variations and the ebb and flow of a match situation, you start to see the strategy behind every decision: why a captain sets an attacking field, why a bowler switches to a slower ball, why a batter suddenly accelerates. Keep this glossary nearby for your first few matches, and before long the terms will become second nature. That is when cricket stops being confusing and starts being genuinely gripping, whichever format you choose to follow first.