Cricket Glossary

Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Cricket.

Term	Plain-English Meaning	Example	Also Known As
Cricket	A bat-and-ball sport where one side bats to score runs while the other bowls and fields to limit runs and take wickets.	The team plays a shortened youth cricket match on Saturday.
Batter	A player from the batting side who faces deliveries and tries to score runs.	The batter taps the ball into a gap and calls yes.	Batsman;striker
Bowler	The player who delivers the ball toward the batter and wicket.	The bowler aims for a good line and length.
Wicketkeeper	The specialist fielder behind the wicket who catches missed balls, gathers throws, and helps with stumpings and run outs.	The wicketkeeper collects the ball cleanly and removes the bails.	Keeper
Fielder	Any player on the fielding side who is not currently bowling or keeping wicket.	A fielder backs up the throw near the stumps.
Wicket	The stumps and bails at each end, or a dismissal depending on context.	The team took a wicket when the batter was bowled.	Stumps;dismissal
Stumps	The three vertical posts that make up the wicket.	The ball hits the stumps and the batter is bowled.
Bails	The small pieces resting on top of the stumps.	The bails fall after the throw hits the wicket.
Over	A set of legal deliveries by one bowler, commonly six in many formats.	The coach says there are two overs left.
Delivery	One ball bowled to the batter.	The delivery bounces just outside off stump.	Ball
Innings	A team's turn to bat.	The second innings starts after the break.
Run	The basic scoring unit in cricket.	The batters complete one run safely.	Single
Boundary	The edge of the playing area and the scoring result when the ball reaches or clears it.	The ball reaches the boundary for four.	Rope
Four	A boundary score when the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground.	The umpire signals four after the ball rolls to the rope.
Six	A boundary score when the ball clears the boundary on the full.	The batter hits a six over the cones marking the boundary.
Extra	A run added to the team score that is not a normal run credited to the batter.	The score increases after a wide.	Sundry
Wide	A delivery too far from the batter to reasonably hit under the local rule.	The umpire calls wide and adds an extra.
No Ball	An illegal delivery for reasons such as foot placement, height, action, or local safety rules.	The umpire signals no ball after the bowler oversteps.
Bye	An extra run when the batter does not hit the ball and it does not hit the body, but the batters run.	The ball passes the wicketkeeper and the batters run a bye.
Leg Bye	An extra run after the ball touches the batter's body rather than the bat, if the local rule allows it.	The ball glances off the pad and the batters run a leg bye.
Dismissal	A way a batter gets out.	Caught, bowled, and run out are common dismissals.	Out
Bowled	A dismissal when a legal delivery hits the wicket and puts it down.	The ball hits the stumps and the batter is bowled.
Caught	A dismissal when a fielder catches the ball from the bat before it touches the ground.	The slip fielder catches the edge.
Run Out	A dismissal when the fielding side breaks the wicket while a batter is short of the crease during a run.	The throw beats the batter to the wicket for a run out.
Stumped	A dismissal when the wicketkeeper puts down the wicket while the batter is out of the crease after missing or not playing the ball.	The wicketkeeper completes a stumping after the batter steps forward.
LBW	Leg before wicket, a dismissal in some formats when the ball would have hit the wicket but is stopped illegally by the batter's leg or body.	Older hard-ball formats may use LBW more than beginner formats.	Leg before wicket
Crease	Marked lines near each wicket that help judge runs, bowling legality, and some dismissals.	The batter grounds the bat behind the crease.
Line And Length	Bowling terms for side-to-side direction and where the ball pitches.	The coach asks for a better line and length.
Slip	A close catching fielder near the wicketkeeper, often used for edges from the bat.	The slip moves ready for a catch.
Pairs Cricket	A youth format where batters work in pairs for set overs, often so everyone gets a turn.	Each pair bats for two overs before rotating.
Soft-Ball Cricket	A beginner or youth format using a softer ball and often simpler equipment or rules.	The clinic starts with soft-ball cricket before hard-ball cricket.