Pace Bowling (Fast Bowling):

A style of bowling in which the ball is delivered at high speeds, typically over 90 mph (145 km/h). A pace bowler (or paceman) often will also use swing.

Pads:

Protective equipment for batters and wicket-keepers, covering the legs.

Pad Away or Pad-Play:

To intentionally use the pads to deflect the ball away from the wicket. Using the pad instead of the bat removes the danger of being caught by close fielders but would only be used when there is no risk of being dismissed LBW (for example, if the ball pitched on the leg side).

Paddle Sweep:

A very fine sweep, almost just a tickle of the delivery pitched on or outside leg stump.

Paddle Scoop (Scoop Shot, Ramp Shot, Dilscoop, or Marillier Shot):

A shot in which the batter drops on one knee and scoops the ball over their shoulder or head, using the bat as a ramp to redirect the momentum of the ball. Considered unorthodox and risky but can result in a boundary behind the wicket keeper or in the fine leg region.

Pair:

A “pair of spectacles” (0–0) or a “pair of ducks.” A batter’s score of zero runs in both innings of a two-innings match.

Par Score:

During the second innings of a limited-overs match, the par score is the target the Duckworth-Lewis method calculates if the match were to be halted now (e.g., due to rain).

Partnership:

The number of runs scored between a pair of batters before one of them gets dismissed. This also includes the deliveries faced and time taken.

Part-Time Bowler (Part-Timer):

A specialist batter (or even a wicketkeeper) who is not known for bowling but has adequate skills to occasionally bowl a few overs.

Pavilion:

A building or grandstand that contains the player’s dressing rooms, located adjacent to the field. At larger grounds, the pavilion usually incorporates seating for members of the home club to watch the game.

Peach:

A delivery bowled by a fast bowler is considered unplayable, usually a really good delivery that a batter gets out to, or one that is too good that the batters cannot even edge.

Pea Roller:

A now illegal delivery where the ball is rolled along the ground rather than bowled over-arm.

Pegs (Slang):

The stumps.

Perfume Ball:

A bouncer on or just outside off-stump that passes within inches of the batter’s face.

Pfeiffer:

See five-wicket haul.

Pick:

Of a batter, to correctly identify which variation a bowler (often a spin bowler) has delivered.

Pick of the Bowlers:

The bowler who performed the best, whether over the course of an innings or a match.

Picket Fences:

An over in which one run is scored off each delivery. It looks like picket fences 111111, hence the name.

Pie Chucker (or Pie Thrower):

A poor bowler, usually of slow to medium pace, whose deliveries are flighted so much as to appear similar to a pie in the air. Considered easy to score off by batters – see Buffet Bowling.

Pinch Hitter/Slogger:

A lower-order batter promoted up the batting order to increase the run rate.

Pink Ball:

A type of ball that is intended to behave like a red ball but have the visibility of a white ball. Used exclusively in day/night timed matches.

Pitch:

The rectangular surface in the centre of the field where most of the action takes place, usually made of earth or clay. It is 22 yards in length.

Of the ball, to bounce before reaching the batter after delivery.

The spot where the ball pitches (sense 2).

Pitch (It) Up:

To bowl a delivery on a fuller length.

Pitch Map:

A diagram showing where a number of balls, usually from a particular bowler, have pitched.

Placement:

The ball when it is hit such that it bisects or trisects the fielders placed on the field. The ball usually ends up being a four.

Platinum Duck:

A player dismissed without even facing a ball – most likely by being run out as the non-striker. Also sometimes referred to as a Diamond Duck.

Play and Miss:

When a batter aims to hit the ball with the bat but does not make contact; a swing and a miss.

Playing On:

For the batter to hit the ball with their bat but only succeed in diverting it onto the stumps. The batter is thus out bowled. Also known as “dragging on” or “chopping on.”

Playing Time:

The set of rules specifying when the match begins, which intervals and/or drinks breaks occur, how long play can continue, etc.

Plumb:

Of a dismissal by LBW: indisputable, obvious. Of a wicket, giving true bounce.

Point:

A fielding position square of the batter’s off side.

Point of Release:

The position of the bowler at the moment when the ball is released.

Pongo:

(Used primarily by UK county players) a very high volume of run-making, or batting assault.

Popper:

A ball that rises sharply from the pitch when bowled (‘pops up’).

Popping Crease:

One of two lines in the field is defined as being four feet in front of and parallel to that end’s bowling crease where the wickets are positioned. A batter who does not have either the bat or some part of their body touching the ground behind the popping crease is considered out of their ground and is in danger of being dismissed, run out or stumped.

Powerplay:

A block of overs that in One Day Internationals offer a temporary advantage to the batting side.

Pro20:

South African form of Twenty20.

Pro40:

A professional limited overs competition that was played in England from 1969 to 2009, with 40 overs per side.

Projapoti:

A delivery by a pace bowler which minimises rotation of the ball, causing it to move erratically in flight. Based on the same aerodynamic principles as baseball’s knuckleball.

Protected Area:

An area of the pitch defined as two feet wide down the middle of the pitch and beginning five feet from each popping crease. A bowler is not allowed to trespass this area in their follow-through or the bowler is given a warning.

Pull:

A shot played to the leg side to a short-pitched delivery, between mid-wicket and backward square-leg.

Pursuit (Runchase):

An attempt by the batting side to chase down the target set by the opposition.

Push:

Batter’s call for a run, urging their partner to look for two.

Put Down:

To drop a catch; often said with the batter as the object (e.g., the fielder has put “him” down).