Cricket is a team game with a specialized vocabulary. For general background see Cricket and the broader category of sport. This article explains frequently used terms so newcomers and casual followers can understand match reports, commentary and coaching instructions.

Overview

Terms in cricket describe player roles, methods of scoring and dismissal, match structure and field positions. Many words are short ("over", "run") while others are technical ("LBW", "yorker"). Some evolved from 19th‑century play and others from modern limited‑overs tactics.

Key roles and basic actions

  • Batter (formerly batsman): the player who scores runs by striking the ball.
  • Bowler: the player who delivers the ball to the batter; types include fast, medium and spin bowlers.
  • Wicket: the set of three stumps and two bails at each end, and also used to mean a dismissal ("took a wicket").
  • Run: the unit of scoring; boundaries score four or six runs depending on whether the ball bounced before crossing the rope.

Match structure and scoring terms

Matches are divided into innings and overs. An over consists of six legal deliveries by one bowler. Formats range from multi‑day Tests to one‑day internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 (T20), each influencing tactics and terminology like "powerplay" or "death overs".

Common dismissals and bowling terms

  • LBW (leg before wicket): a batter is out if the ball would have hit the stumps but is intercepted by the batter's body.
  • Bowled, caught, run out, stumped: other principal modes of dismissal.
  • Yorker: a delivery aimed at the batter's feet; bouncer: a short ball rising towards the head; maiden: an over conceding no runs.

Fielding positions and special terms

Fielders are named by position relative to the batter: slips, gully, point, cover, mid‑on, mid‑off, square leg and fine leg are among many. Terms like "sweep", "pull" and "cover drive" describe batting shots. "Duck" means being dismissed without scoring; "century" is 100 runs by a batter.

Usage, learning and regional variation

Cricket vocabulary varies by country and era; commentators also use informal slang and metaphors (for example, "sticky wicket" for difficult conditions). Learning common terms improves enjoyment of live matches and reading statistics. For deeper rules and signals consult official laws and coaching guides.

For quick reference, many glossaries list terms alphabetically and include illustrations of field positions and sample match situations. Beginners should focus on basic scoring, common dismissals and a handful of bowling and batting terms before tackling specialized jargon.