Cricket terminology
In cricket, there are lots of different words and phrases that might seem confusing at first. Here are some of the most important ones explained simply:
- Batting: This is when a player tries to hit the ball with a bat to score runs for their team.
- Bowling: The opposite of batting, this is when a player throws the ball towards the batter.
- Run: A point scored by the batting team. When a batter hits the ball and runs to the other end of the pitch, they get one run. If they keep running back and forth, they can score more runs.
- Wicket: This is what the bowler is trying to hit with the ball. It's a set of three wooden sticks (called stumps) with two small sticks (called bails) balanced on top. If the bowler hits the stumps and the bails fall off, the batter is out.
- Out: When a batter gets out, they have to leave the field and a new player comes in to bat. There are lots of ways to get out, like if the bowler hits the wicket, or if a fielder catches the ball after the batter hits it.
- Over: This is a set of six deliveries (balls) thrown by the bowler. After six balls, the other team's bowler takes over.
- Fielding: When the batting team hits the ball, the fielding team tries to catch or stop it to prevent the other team from scoring too many runs.
- Innings: This is one team's turn to bat. They keep batting until ten of their players are out, or they run out of scheduled overs, whichever happens first.
- Duck: When a batter gets out without scoring any runs, it's called a duck. It's not a good thing and batters try to avoid it!
- Umpire: This is the person who stands on the field and makes sure everyone is following the rules. They signal when a batter is out or if a delivery is improper.
These are just a few of the most common cricket terms! As you watch more games, you'll learn even more vocabulary.
- Batting: This is when a player tries to hit the ball with a bat to score runs for their team.
- Bowling: The opposite of batting, this is when a player throws the ball towards the batter.
- Run: A point scored by the batting team. When a batter hits the ball and runs to the other end of the pitch, they get one run. If they keep running back and forth, they can score more runs.
- Wicket: This is what the bowler is trying to hit with the ball. It's a set of three wooden sticks (called stumps) with two small sticks (called bails) balanced on top. If the bowler hits the stumps and the bails fall off, the batter is out.
- Out: When a batter gets out, they have to leave the field and a new player comes in to bat. There are lots of ways to get out, like if the bowler hits the wicket, or if a fielder catches the ball after the batter hits it.
- Over: This is a set of six deliveries (balls) thrown by the bowler. After six balls, the other team's bowler takes over.
- Fielding: When the batting team hits the ball, the fielding team tries to catch or stop it to prevent the other team from scoring too many runs.
- Innings: This is one team's turn to bat. They keep batting until ten of their players are out, or they run out of scheduled overs, whichever happens first.
- Duck: When a batter gets out without scoring any runs, it's called a duck. It's not a good thing and batters try to avoid it!
- Umpire: This is the person who stands on the field and makes sure everyone is following the rules. They signal when a batter is out or if a delivery is improper.
These are just a few of the most common cricket terms! As you watch more games, you'll learn even more vocabulary.