Spinning Cricket | The alternative cricketing dictionary

Agricultural

An ugly looking shot where the batter loses their shape from trying to hit the ball too hard.

Anchor

A player who the rest of the team can bat around. By 'dropping anchor' they are playing defensively to avoid getting out, enabling the rest of the team to play more aggressively. See: Stonewaller.

Bang It In

A bowler delivering a short-pitch ball which bounces half way down the pitch. See: Chin Music.

Beamer

A dangerous high delivery which does not bounce before reaching the batter, and could hit them in the head.

Beat the Bat

A bowler delivering a good ball which the batter only just avoids edging. See: Snick

Bend the Back

A bowler trying to bowl as quickly as possible.

Biffer

A batter aiming to hit the ball as hard and far as possible.

Bodyline

The continued unpleasant barrage of short pitched deliveries aimed at the batter's body. See: Chin Music. A famous tactic during the 1932-33 Ashes Series.

Bite

The attribute a spin bowler has achieved when the ball they have delivered sharply changes direction after hitting the pitch.

Bottom Hand

When a batter puts more power through the bottom hand on the bat than the top, in order to get elevation.

Block Hole

The area of the pitch directly under the batters feet which bowlers aim for when trying to bowl a yorker which hits the stumps.

Bowling at the Death

The period at the end of a limited overs match innings, when the batters play more aggressively as they are more concerned with scoring as many runs as possible than not losing wickets. This is a bad time to be bowling!

Buffet Bowling

The continued bowling of poor deliveries which easily allows batters to pile on the runs.

Cameo

An individual's batting innings which is exciting due to the fast accumulation of runs through boundaries, but can be over quickly as a result of their aggressive nature.

Check upstairs

When a player or official wants to double check an on-field decision, the play is reviewed by a TV umpire with access to slow motion replays and technology, to overturn or uphold the original decision.

Cherry

An alternative name for a brand new cricket ball.

Cordon

The line of slip catchers behind the bat, waiting for the batter to make a mistake and edge the ball to them to catch.

Chin Music

The continued unpleasant barrage of short pitched deliveries aimed at the batter's chin.

Corridor of Uncertainty

The channel a bowler delivers the ball into just outside the line of off stump, to create uncertainty in a batters mind whether to play or leave, which could induce an edge.

Collapse

A sudden and unexpected loss of wickets, during which few runs are scored.

Cow Corner

The area of the leg side outfield the ball goes to when a batter 'slogs'.

Dancing down the Wicket

Leaving the safety of the crease to get closer to the pitch of the ball, usually when facing spinners.

Dibbly Dobbly

An accurate medium pace bowler.

Donkey Drop

A very slow and high flighted delivery, which bounces just before it reaches the batter. See: Pie Chucker.

Duckworth-Lewis

The mathematical equation used to determine scores and/or winners in rain-affected innings/matches.

Farm the Strike

The strategy used in batting partnerships between top & bottom order players, where the senior batter attempts to stay on strike as much as possible.

Fruit Salad

The T20 bowling strategy of offering up a different type of delivery each time.

Full pint

A stump being knocked all the way back due to the sheer speed of a delivery.

Gardening

A batter prodding out any inconsistencies in the pitch, or removing debris, with their bat. Also used as a time wasting tactic towards the end of test matches.