Bails – 2 small sticks that are placed on top of the stumps. For a batter to be out by being stumped, run out or bowled, the bail must be knocked to the ground.
Batter (batsman) – The player who is trying to score runs. They do this by hitting the bowled ball and running between the wickets. Batters are usually batting with a partner.
Boundaries – The perimeter of the playing field used in cricket. Four runs are scored if a ball is hit along the floor or bounces before crossing the boundary. Six runs are scored if the ball passes the boundary without bouncing.
Bowl – When a bowler propels the ball towards a batter to hit. The ball is allowed to bounce once and cannot get to the batter above waist-high without bouncing, or it is a no-ball.
Bowled – A way a batter can be got out. It happens if a legally bowled ball hits the stumps, and a bail falls to the ground.
Bowler – The player who bowls the ball for a batter to hit. They are trying to get a batter out by hitting the wickets or getting a batter caught.
Caught - A way a batter can be got out. It happens if a batter hits a legally bowled ball in the air and is caught by a fielder without the ball touching the ground.
Crease – In cricket, the term crease refers to the white line or mark drawn on the ground at either end of the pitch; this line defines the area where the batter stands and is used to determine whether the batter is in or out of his ground. The bowler must also deliver the bowled ball from behind the crease at the other end.
Cross bat – Any shot played by a batter where the bat is held and swung horizontally. An example of a shot played with a cross bat is the pull shot.
Drive – An attacking shot where a batter hits a bowled ball using a straight bat. The ball is hit around knee-high along the ground. It can be hit in different directions to score runs.
Fielding – The act of stopping, catching, and returning a ball hit by the batter.
Forward Defensive – A defensive shot played by a batter that is extremely low risk. It blocks the ball using a straight bat, making it very unlikely to get out being caught by a fielder or bowled.
Full Toss – When a bowler bowls a ball that does not bounce before reaching the batter. Infield – The part of the playing area where fielding takes place. It is the area close to the pitch where fielders are placed to prevent runs from being scored.
Innings – A game of cricket is split into innings. Each innings involves a team trying to score as many runs as possible in the set amount of overs. An innings finishes either when the allotted overs have been bowled, or all of the batting team are out.
Leg before wicket (LBW) - A way a batter can be got out. It happens if a legally bowled ball that would have gone on to hit the stumps hits the batter on the leg, stopping them from being bowled out.
Leg stump – The stump that is on the same side as the on side for a batter. It is closest to the batter’s legs when they bat and is on opposite sides for left-handers than right-handers. (See diagram below for on and off side references).
Long barrier – A safe way of stopping a ball travelling along the ground when fielding.
Middle stump - The stump that is the middle of the three. It does not change for lefthanders and right-handers. (see diagram below)
Mid-Off – A fielding position in cricket. The fielder stands to the side of the bowler, about 30 yards from the batter. They are positioned on the batters off side and are there to field balls that have been driven by a batter.
Mid-On – A fielding position in cricket. The fielder stands to the side of the bowler, about 30 yards from the batter. They are positioned on the batters on side and are there to field balls that have been driven by a batter.
No-ball – When a bowler bowls an illegal bowl. This may be that it bounces more than twice before reaching the batter, bowling a full toss above waist height, or stepping over the line when bowling. A batter cannot be out bowled, stumped or caught from a no-ball, but a batter can be run out. A no-ball must be re-bowled and give the batters an additional run.
Off Side– The side of a cricket field the batter's body faces when batting. For example, the righthand side of the field for a right-handed batter. (See diagram below for on and off side references).
Off Stump - The stump that is on the same side as the off side for a batter. It is furthest away from the batter’s legs when they bat and is on opposite sides for lefthanders than right-handers. (See diagram below for on and off side references).
On (leg) Side – The opposite side of a cricket field to the way a batter's body faces when batting. It is also sometimes known as the leg side. For example, the lefthand side of the field for a right-handed batter. (See diagram below for on and off side references).
Out – When a batter is batting, if they are out, it means they are no longer batting and cannot score runs for their team. Ways a batter can be out include bowled, stumped, caught and run out.
Outfield – The part of the playing area close to the boundaries, furthest away from the pitch.
Over – An over comprises a bowler bowling six legal bowls. After each over, a different bowler bowls from the opposite end of the pitch.
Pitch/Wicket – The part of the playing field where batting and bowling take place; rectangular in shape, there are stumps and batting crease at either end. The bowler bowls from one end to the waiting batter at the other.
Pull Shot – An attacking shot played to a bowl that reaches the batter at waist-high and above. It is a cross-batted shot hit into the on side.
Run Out - A way a batter can be got out. It happens if the fielding team can use the ball to hit a bail from the stumps whilst a batter is out of their crease attempting to get a run.
Runs – The scoring method in cricket. One run is added to score every time batters successfully run from one crease to the other. Runs are also awarded for hitting the ball over the boundary.
Setting a field – Fielders stand in different positions and areas on the playing field. Fielders can change position between bowls and should be placed to try and reduce run-scoring alongside getting batters out.