Cricket has its own language. From LBW to follow-on, many cricket terms may sound confusing if you are new to the game. Yet, understanding these words makes matches easier to follow and more enjoyable. This A to Z of cricket terms gives beginners a simple glossary to learn the basics quickly.

A to Z Cricket Terms

A

All-Rounder – A player who can both bat and bowl well.
Appeal – When players ask the umpire for a decision, often for an LBW or catch.

B

Bails – The two small sticks that sit on top of the stumps.
Beamer – A delivery that reaches the batter without bouncing and above waist height.
Boundary – When the ball crosses the rope. Four runs if it touches the ground, six runs if it goes over.

C

Cover Drive – A classic batting shot played through the cover region.
Crease – The line marking the batsman’s safe zone and bowler’s delivery area.

D

Duck – When a batter gets out without scoring.
DLS Method – Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method used to adjust scores in rain-hit matches.

E

Extras – Runs awarded to a team not from the bat, such as wides, no-balls, and byes.

F

Follow-On – When a team batting second is forced to bat again after being behind by a set margin in Tests.
Free Hit – A delivery where the batter cannot be dismissed in most ways, usually after a no-ball.

G

Googly – A leg spinner’s surprise ball that turns the opposite way.
Golden Duck – When a batter gets out on the very first ball.

H

Hat-Trick – A bowler taking three wickets in three consecutive balls.
Half-Century – When a batter scores 50 runs.

I

Innings – The phase of play when a team bats until 10 players are out or overs end.

J

Jaffa – A slang term for an excellent delivery that is almost impossible to play.

K

Keeper – Short for wicket-keeper, the player standing behind the stumps.

L

LBW (Leg Before Wicket) – When a batter is out because the ball hits their leg in line with the stumps.
Leg Side – The side of the field behind the batter.

M

Maiden Over – An over where no runs are scored from the bat.
Man of the Match – The player with the best performance in a game.

N

Nightwatchman – A lower-order batter sent in near the end of the day in Test cricket.
Net Run Rate (NRR) – A key number used in tournaments to separate teams with equal points. Beginners can use a cricket calculator to check NRR easily.

O

Over – Six legal deliveries bowled by one bowler.
Outfield – The large area of the ground beyond the inner circle.

P

Powerplay – Fielding restriction overs in limited-overs cricket.
Pitch – The 22-yard strip where batting and bowling take place.

Q

Quotient – A method to rank teams in tournaments when points are tied.

R

Run Rate – The average runs scored per over.
Review (DRS) – Technology used to review umpire decisions.

S

Slip – A fielder placed next to the wicket-keeper to catch edges.
Strike Rate – The scoring speed of a batter or efficiency of a bowler.

T

Third Umpire – An off-field umpire who uses video replays.
Toss – A coin flip to decide which team bats or bowls first.

U

Umpire – The official who makes decisions on the field.
Unbeaten – When a batter remains not out at the end of an innings.

V

V-Cut – A batting shot played square of the wicket on the off side.

W

Wide Ball – An illegal delivery too far for the batter to reach.
Wicket – Can mean the stumps, the pitch, or a dismissal.

X

X-Factor Player – A player with the ability to change the game in short time.

Y

Yorker – A ball pitched at the batsman’s feet, usually tough to play.

Z

Zooter – A special backspin delivery bowled by a leg spinner.

Why Learning Cricket Terms Matters for Beginners

  • Makes commentary and analysis easier to understand.

  • Helps new players follow rules during matches.

  • Builds confidence when talking about the game.

How Cricket Calculators Support Learning Cricket Terms

Many cricket terms like Net Run Rate, Strike Rate, Required Run Rate, Quotient, and Follow-On involve numbers. Beginners may find the formulas tough. Using a cricket calculator csolves these instantly, making it easier to understand terms while watching or playing.

FAQ

1. What are cricket terms?
They are words and phrases used in cricket to describe rules, shots, and match situations.

2. Why should beginners learn cricket terms?
It helps them understand commentary, scoring, and game strategies.

3. What does LBW mean?
Leg Before Wicket, when the ball hits the batter’s leg in line with the stumps.

4. What is a duck in cricket?
When a batter is dismissed without scoring a run.

5. How many overs are in one over?
Each over has six legal deliveries.

6. What is strike rate in batting?
Runs scored per 100 balls faced.

7. What is net run rate?
A number that decides standings in tournaments when teams tie on points.

8. What is a follow-on?
In Test cricket, when the second-batting team is asked to bat again after falling behind.

9. What is powerplay?
Restricted overs in limited-overs cricket with fewer fielders allowed outside the circle.

10. Where can beginners calculate cricket terms like NRR?
On apps like CricHeroes, which offer free cricket calculators.

Conclusion

Learning cricket terms is the first step for beginners to enjoy the game fully. From A to Z, each word has meaning on the field, in commentary, and in tournament rules. For terms involving numbers like net run rate or strike rate, a cricket calculator makes learning simple.

CricHeroes offers free cricket calculators, live scorekeeping, and ball-by-ball commentary, making cricket easy for both beginners and experienced fans.