Cricket - A Whole New Language

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CRICKET – A WHOLE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE

Whilst watching the cricket the other night with my 6 year old son he became confused with current Kent cricketer and Sky commentator Rob Key’s use of cricketing slang during his commentary and actually asked me what he was talking about! I have compiled a brief guide to some of the most common slang terminology used every day in cricket today to help individuals who are new to the game understand what is going on.

JAFFA – A term used to describe an unplayable delivery. This is taken from the idea that a Jaffa is the best type of Orange.

PIE – A term used to describe a really poor delivery, usually used when a ‘Pie Chucker’ is bowling ‘buffet deliveries’ where you can help yourself to runs.

BUNSEN – A term used to describe a pitch which aids spin bowling. Taken from the rhyming slang ‘Bunsen Burner’ meaning Turner.

SEED – A term for a great delivery, used in the same context as a ‘Jaffa’

COW – A term which is used to describe an area of the ground, ‘cow corner’, or a type of shot played by a batsman, ‘cow shot’. This term is thought to have originated because proper cricket shots shouldn’t end up going to this part of the ground where cows should be allowed to graze freely.

CHIN MUSIC – The use of short pitched bowling to intimidate a batsman.

BUMPER/BOUNCER - A common cricketing term used to describe a short pitched delivery.

THE DEATH – A commonly used term to describe the end of an innings.

DILSCOOP – A term used to describe a shot to a full length ball where the batsman goes down on one knee and attempts to hit the ball over the wicket keepers head for a boundary. This shot was first seen played by Sri Lankan batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan and is named after him.

THE NEW ROCK – A term used to describe a new unused cricket ball.

ROAD – A really good batting wicket. So flat and hard it resembles a road

NICKED OFF – A term used when a batsman edges the ball to the wicket keeper or slip cordon.

DOLLY – A term used to describe a very easy catch.

45 – A term used to describe a common fielding position for a spin bowler. This position is on the leg side, behind square leg and is a t a 45 degree angle to the batsman.

DRS - A commonly used term for the Decision Review System which is used in a lot of International games more recently.

There are many other terms which are used every day in a cricketing environment, but hopefully the above will clear up some confusion when it comes to watching the cricket on the TV.