Maiden over

an over in which no runs are scored off the bat and there are no wides or no-balls. Maiden overs are tracked as part of a bowling analysis because they are considered a good performance for a bowler.

Maker’s name

the full face of the bat, where the manufacturer’s logo is normally located. Used to describe a batter’s technique when playing a straight drive so that the opposing bowler can see the batter’s bat label (e.g., “Sachin Tendulkar played a beautiful on-drive for four, giving it plenty of maker’s name…”).

Man of the match

an award given to the highest scoring batter, top wicket taker, or best overall performer in a match. Man of the series is the same over a whole series.

Manhattan

also known as the Skyline. A one-day game’s runs scored off each over is displayed as a bar graph, with dots designating the overs in which wickets were lost. An alternative use of the name is on a bar graph that displays the total runs scored by a batter during their career in each innings. Named for the alleged resemblance of the bars to the towering skyscrapers that dominate Manhattan’s skyline.

Mankad

the non-striking batter who leaves their crease before the bowler releases the ball being run out by the bowler. It bears the name of the Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad, who employed this tactic in a contentious Test match. While practically unknown in first-class cricket, this is fairly common in indoor cricket and is recorded separately from run outs.

Manufacturer

typically the firm responsible for producing a batter’s cricket bat. Some popular manufacturers include Kookaburra Sport, Gray-Nicolls, and Sanspareils Greenlands.

Marillier shot

see paddle scoop

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)

The cricket club which is the owner of Lord’s cricket ground in NW8 London. It is the keeper of cricket’s laws.

Match fixing

illegally planning a match’s result in advance, such as by playing a deliberately bad game to guarantee a loss. See cricket betting controversies for an example of how fixing is typically the result of bribery or collusion with bettors who place bets on the outcome. Spot fixing is the process of correcting outcomes other than the final result. Match-fixing scandals have resulted in jail sentences for cricket players, as it is not only against the laws of the nation where the sport is played but also against the rules of cricket itself.

Match referee

an official whose job it is to keep the integrity of the game intact. When players or teams act unethically, they have the authority to penalize them.

Maximum

see six.

Meat of the bat

the thickest area of the bat, where the ball receives the majority of its energy.

Mecca of cricket

This usually refers to the Home of Cricket, which is also referred to as the Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Medium-pace

an individual who bowls faster than a spin bowler but slower than a pace bowler. Although the medium-pacer values speed, they aim to beat the hitter with the ball’s movement rather than its bowling speed. Either bowl cutters or ones who rely on the ball swinging through the air are medium-pacers. They usually bowl at about 55–70 mph (90–110 km/h).

Michelle

See five-wicket haul.

Middle of the bat

the portion of the bat’s face that, should it make contact with the ball, provides the shot with the most power. Also referred to as the bat’s “meat.” Essentially the same as the sweet spot, but a shot that has been “middled” typically has a strong power and timing component to it. 

Middle order

the batters who, in the batting order, bat between roughly positions 5 and 7. comprises the wicketkeeper and all-rounders most of the time.

Mid-off

a fielding position in front of, and reasonably close to, the wicket line that aims to save a run on the off side.

Mid-on

a fielding position in front of, and reasonably close to, the wicket line that aims to save a run on the leg side.

Mid-wicket

a fielding position between mid-on and square leg that aims to save a run on the leg side.

Military medium

bowling at a medium pace without enough speed to get a batter in trouble. is often used disparagingly, implying that the bowling is uninteresting, harmless, or lacking in variety; however, it can also be used positively, implying a military regularity and absence of inadvertent variation. It is extremely difficult for the batter to score runs when a good military medium bowler pitches the ball on the same exact line and length for six balls in an over. 

Milking (or milk the bowling)

using bad bowling or gaps in the defense to score a constant flow of simple runs at a moderate pace with little chance of being out. Because of the circle restrictions, it is especially common against spin bowling in limited overs matches.

Mine

see call

Mis-field

a fielder who drops a catch or fumbles a pick-up when attempting to collect the ball cleanly.