Cricket is a sport. It is played between two teams of eleven players. There are many words or expressions in cricket.

All-Rounder

An all-rounder is a cricketer who is a good batsman and bowler. The player usually bats sixth or seventh in the batting order. He is usually a medium-pace bowler. Sometimes he can be a medium-fast or spin bowler. Very often the all-rounder is also a good fielder. He is sometimes a specialist fielder. A lot of County cricket teams usually have one or two all-rounders.

Around the wicket

When the bowler is right handed, bowling over the wicket is when he's on the right of the stumps. When he is left handed, it is when he bowls on the left on the stumps. After bowling over the wicket, the bowler might try bowling around the wicket. This might make the batsman make an error.

The Ashes

The perpetual prize in England v Australia Test match series. Invented by The Sporting Times in 1882, after a match when Australia beat England on an English ground for the first time. The obituary said that English cricket had died, and the body would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English press dubbed the next English tour to Australia (1882–83) as the quest to regain The Ashes. During that tour a small terracotta urn was presented to England captain Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women. The contents of the urn are reputed to be the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, a bail.

Asking rate

The run rate at which the team batting second needs to score to catch the opponents' score in a limited overs game. Same as 'required run rate'.

Average

A batsman's average is the number of runs he has scored divided by the number of innings. For example, if he has scored 343 runs in 7 innings, his average is 49. If he is not out at the end of one innings, his average would be 57.16. This is because the total would only be divided by six.

A bowler's average is calculated by dividing the number of runs scored when he bowls by the number of wickets he has taken. For example a bowler who takes 48 wickets in total for 1,200 runs has an average of 25.

Backlift

Lifting the bat in preparation to hitting the ball.

Backing up

The term has two meanings. A non striker (the batsman who is not receiving) advances a few steps, and hopes the batsman on strike will score some runs. This is a way to get quick singles.

When a fielder backs up, he covers another fielder in case that one misses the ball. This prevents the possibility of more runs being scored because of an overthrow.

Bad light

Bad light is a reason to stop the play. The umpires may stop the game if they think the fielders, batsmen or bowlers cannot see well enough to play. Sometimes the umpires offer the light to the batsmen. This means they ask them if they want to continue batting or not when it starts to get dark. In one day matches, umpires usually let play continue.

Bails

Each set of three stumps has a pair of bails. They are also made of wood. They are just less than five inches long. They cannot be more than one inch above the stumps. For a batsman to be out at least one of the bails must fall. If neither falls, the batsman cannot be out.

Ball-Tampering

Bowlers often polish the ball, usually on their trousers. However, nobody is allowed to rub it on the pitch or ground. Ball-tampering is when a bowler or fielder deliberately scratches the balls. The most famous example was in 1994. England captain Mike Atherton was fined £2,000 for ball-tampering in a match against South Africa. He had dirt in his pocket. He said he was using it to stop his hands sweating.

Beamer

A beamer is a ball which does not bounce in front of the batsman. Instead it is aimed directly at his head. Sometimes it is done deliberately, but it is usually an error from the bowler.

Block hole

The block hole is a small hole in the pitch. It is normally just behind or in front of the popping crease. It is made by the batsman so he knows where to stand. He will usually ask the umpire to help him. The block hole may be for example in line with the leg stump.

Bouncer

A bouncer (or a bumper) is a fast ball. It is bowled short so that it bounces up towards the batsman's head. It is used to intimidate them. Sometimes the ball is bounced to high and the umpire calls a no-ball. If the bowler bowls too many bouncers the umpire may stop him from bowling. In a one-day game, a bouncer which goes over the batsman's head can be called a wide by the umpire.

Boundary

The boundary defines the limit of the playing zone. It is normally marked by a rope. When the batsman hits the ball and it goes over the rope without touching the ground, he scores six runs. This is where the term hit for six comes from. If the ball bounces, the batsman gets four runs. There are sometimes other rules on some wicket grounds. For example at Kent's Canterbury ground, there is a lime tree. If you touch the tree you get four runs. The tree was blown over by wind in 2005. Since then a new one is in place, and the tradition continues.

Box

The box is a hard protector for the region of the groin. batsmen, wicketkeepers and close fielders usually wear it. The cricket ball is very hard, so the box is an essential part of equipment for a cricketer.

Bump Ball

When a batsman hits the ball into the ground and a fielder catches it, it is called a bump ball. The batsman is not out. However, some spectators which are far away sometimes appeal for a catch because it looked like the fielder caught the ball without it bouncing.

Bye and Leg Bye

Any runs scored without the ball touching the bat or the batsman's body is called byes. Usually the wicketkeeper stops the ball, but sometimes he misses resulting in byes.

Leg byes are scored when the ball touches any part of the body other than the hands (which count as the bat). Byes and leg byes are not counted as runs for the batsman. They are counted as extras.

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