Back Foot:

Batting: The back foot refers to the one closest to the stumps. For a right-hand batter, it’s the right foot; for a left-hand batter, it’s the left foot.

Bowling: The back foot is the one that touches the ground before the front foot during a bowler’s delivery, unless the bowler has an unconventional action.

Back Foot Contact:

The moment in a bowler’s action when the back foot lands on the ground just before releasing the ball.

Back Foot Shot:

A shot played with the batter’s weight on their back foot, commonly used for shots behind square.

Back Spin (Under-Spin):

A delivery with a backward spin, causing the ball to slow down or bounce lower, making it challenging for the batter.

Backing Up:

The non-striking batter leaving the crease before the ball is released, reducing the distance needed to score a run. Going too far risks run-out.

A fielder positioning on the far side of the wicket to recover the ball and prevent overthrows.

Backlift:

Raising the bat in preparation for hitting the ball.

Badger:

A passionate cricket enthusiast with immense love for the game.

Bad Light:

Umpires pause the match when light dims significantly, affecting visibility and player safety.

Baggy Green:

Myrtle green Australian Test cricket cap, symbolizing national pride

Bail:

One of the two wooden pieces atop the stumps, forming the wicket.

Ball:

Spherical object bowled by the bowler, aimed to be hit by the batter’s bat.

A single delivery; each over comprises six balls.

Ball Tampering:

Illegally altering the ball’s condition, often for swing bowling, considered cheating.

Ball Tracking:

A computer vision system used by third umpires to assess LBW appeals and by coaches for player analysis.

Bang (It) In:

Bowling a shorter, faster delivery with extra force.

Bat:

Wooden implement used by batters, consisting of a blade and handle.

Bat-pad:

Fielder close to the batter on the leg side to catch the ball if it hits the bat and pad.

Batter:

Player on the batting side; term is gender-neutral since 2021.

Batting:

Act of defending wicket and scoring runs.

Batting Average:

Average runs scored per innings by a batter.

Batting Collapse:

Rapid succession of dismissals for few runs.

Batting for a Draw:

Defensive batting to salvage a draw in timed matches.

Batting Order:

Sequence in which batters bat, from openers to lower order.

Beach Cricket:

Informal cricket played on beaches.

Beamer:

Illegal head-high delivery; a no-ball offense.

Beat the Bat:

Batter narrowly avoids ball with the bat’s edge, a moral victory for the bowler.

Beehive:

Diagram showing balls’ paths, often from a specific bowler.

Beer Match:

Informal match played to fill time, often with unconventional rules.

Belter:

Pitch advantageous to the batter.

Bend the Back:

Pace bowler’s effort for extra speed or bounce.

Benefit Season:

Fundraising events to reward long-serving players before retirement.

Best Bowling:

Bowling analysis with most wickets, fewest runs; used for comparison.

Biffer:

Slang for aggressive batter; opposite of blocker.

Bite:

Spin bowler’s ability to turn the ball on the pitch.

Block:

Defensive shot to stop the ball without scoring runs.

Blocker:

Slang for defensive batter; opposite of biffer.

Block Hole:

Area difficult to block; target for a yorker delivery.

Blob (Duck):

Batter dismissed without scoring.

Bodyline:

Controversial tactic of fast bowling directed at batter’s body.

Boot Hill (Short Leg):

Fielding position close to batter; historically unpopular due to danger.

Bosie (Googly):

A type of spin delivery; a leg-spinner’s variation.

Bottom Hand:

Hand closest to bat’s blade; shots hit in the air often use this hand.

Bouncer:

Fast, short-pitched delivery rising near the batter’s head.

Bounce Out:

Getting a batter out using bounce, often caught out.

Boundary:

• Field’s perimeter.
• Rope marking boundary; shots reaching or crossing it score four or six runs.

Bowled:

Mode of dismissal; ball hits stumps, dislodging bail.

Bowled Around the Legs:

Out bowled as ball passes batter on leg side before hitting stumps.

Bowler:

• Current bowler.
• Player specializing in bowling.

Bowling:

Act of delivering the cricket ball to the batter.

Bowl-Out:

Method to break a tie, players bowl at an undefended wicket.

Bowling Action:

Movements a bowler makes during delivery.

Bowling Analysis:

Stats summarizing a bowler’s performance, indicating overs, runs, wickets.

Bowling at the Death:

Bowling during final overs of an innings.

Bowling Average:

Runs conceded per wicket taken; lower is better.

Box:

Protective item for genitalia, worn by players underneath trousers.

Brace:

Two wickets taken in consecutive deliveries.

Break:

Ball changing direction after pitching due to spin or cut.

Buffet Bowling:

Varied deliveries; see cafeteria bowling.

Bump Ball:

Ball played off bat into the ground and caught by fielder, resembling a clean catch.

Bumper:

Old term for a bouncer delivery.

Bunny:

Player who frequently gets out to a specific bowler.

Bunsen:

Pitch favoring prodigious spin; from ‘Bunsen Burner,’ rhyming with ‘Turner.’

Buzzer:

Runs taken due to overthrows.

Bye:

Extras scored when ball doesn’t touch any part of the batter.