Glossary of Cricket
Batsman - Who hits the ball.
Batting crease - A line that's 4 ft 3 in (1.3 m) in front of each wicket and that designates where the batters stand.
Bowled out - When the bowler gets the ball past the batsman's defense and it hits the stumps and knocks off the bails. The batsman can also be bowled out if he deflects the ball onto the stumps from his bat or his leg pad.
Bowler - The bowler bowls the ball to the striking batsman. The bowler doesn't just bowl the ball. He can take a catch or throw the ball at the wicket to cause a run-out.
Bowling crease - This mark where the bowler throws the ball.
Caught - When the batsman hits the ball in the air and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground.
Century - When 100 runs are scored in one innings or by a batsman.
Cover - A busy fielding position that requires a quick, agile player, since this fielder stops runs coming from the batsman.
Fielders - Ten players, spread out around the field, who are on the bowler's team. They stop the ball from reaching the boundary, catch it and throw the ball back into either one of the wickets to stop the batter from scoring runs or create a run-out.
Fine leg - The main aim of this fielder is to save runs, rather than to attack the batsmen, as the close-in positions do. Like third man, this fielder should be a fast runner.
Gully - A fielder who stands just wide of the slip fielder.
Mid-off - This fielder stops the straight drive and prevents the batters from running quick "singles." The captain often occupies this position, because it keeps him close to the bowler.
Mid-wicket - As a run-saving position, this fielder has to cover a lot of ground.
Non-striker - One of two batsman who stands on the popping crease, off to the side of the pitch, but doesn't attempt to hit the ball.
Over - The bowler has six bowls per "over." He delivers each of these bowls from one end of the pitch. After six bowls, a new bowler bowls an over, or six deliveries, from the opposite end of the pitch.
Pitch - A rectangular section in the centre of the field where most of the action happens. Wickets, batsman and the bowler take their position here. The pitch is a flat strip that is 66 feet (20.12 m) long.
Point - This is a very busy position, usually reserved for the best fielder in the team. The Point fielder stops the forceful shots and often takes spectacular, diving catches.
Popping crease - Where the running batsman (or non-striker) stands, this crease is opposite from the return crease.
Return crease - Where the striking batsman stands, this crease is opposite from the popping crease.
Run-out - When the batsman are going for a run, but fall short of the batting crease and the bails are knocked off the stumps by the fielding team.
Slips - These fielders have lightening-fast reflexes and stand close to the wicket keeper.
Striking batsman - Stands in front of the wickets at the upper end of the pitch and tries to hit the ball in order to score.
Stumped - The batsman is stumped when the batsman has advanced down the pitch toward the bowler, misses the ball, and the player behind the stumps - the wicket keeper - knocks the bails off before the batsman returns to his crease.
Third Man - This position is all about saving runs. This fielder needsto be a very fast runner to prevent the ball from crossing the boundary.
Wicket - There are two wickets in the pitch, at opposite ends. The wicket consists of three vertical elements, called "stumps," surmountedby two horizontal pieces, called "bails."
Wicket Keeper - This player stands very close behind the wicket, and catches the ball if the batsman misses it. If the batsman hits the ball and the wicket keeper catches it before it hits the ground, the batsman is out.
International Cricket Council (ICC) - The worldwide governing body of cricket.
Marylebone Cricket Club - Located in England, this is the most famous cricket club in the world.
