Glossary of Cricket Terms


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Obstructing The Field 1. adj. describing the method of getting out in which a batsman deliberately obstructs the field to prevent them taking a catch, making a run out, or prevent them from gathering the ball.

ODI 1. n. abbreviation for one-day international.

Off 1. adj. in or towards the half of the field away from the batsman's legs as he stands in the batting stance.
2. n. the off stump.

Off Break 1. n. the standard type of ball bowled by an off spin bowler, which spins from the off to the leg to a right-handed batsman. cf. leg break.

Off Cutter 1. n. a type of ball bowled by a fast bowler, using a finger action similar to an off spin bowler, so that it moves off the pitch from the off to the leg to a right-handed batsman. cf. leg cutter.

Off Drive 1. n. a type of batsman's shot played by swinging the bat down in a vertical arc, through the line of the ball, hitting the ball along the ground, in the direction of mid off. cf. square drive, cover drive, on drive
2. v.i. to play an off drive shot.
3. v.t. to hit the ball with an off drive.

Off Side 1. n. the half of the field away from the batsman's legs as he stands in the batting stance.

Off Spin 1. n. a style of bowling in which the (right-handed) bowler spins the ball so that when it bounces on the pitch it moves from the off to the leg to a right-handed batsman. cf. leg spin.

Off Spinner 1. n. a (right-handed) bowler who specialises in bowling off spin. cf. leg spinner.

Off Stump 1. n. the stump on the off side of the striker's wicket.

Offer The Light 1. v. (of the umpires) to ask the batsmen if they wish to continue playing in poor light conditions.

Off Theory 1. n. archaic name for a bowling tactic involving aiming at or outside the batsman's off stump. cf. leg theory.

Offie 1. n. an off spin bowler.
2. n. an off break.

Old Ball 1. n. a cricket ball after it has been used in a cricket match.
2. n. a cricket ball after it has been used for about 30-40 overs.

On 1. adj. in or towards the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs as he stands in the batting stance; synonym for leg.

On Drive 1. n. a type of batsman's shot played by swinging the bat down in a vertical arc, through the line of the ball, hitting the ball along the ground, in the direction of mid on. cf. square drive, cover drive, off drive
2. v.i. to play an on drive shot.
3. v.t. to hit the ball with an on drive.

On Side 1. n. the half of the field on the same side as the batsman's legs as he stands in the batting stance; synonym for leg side.

On Strike 1. n. the state of a batsman of being the striker.

One 1. n. one run scored off a single ball, by running between the wickets; synonym of single.

One-Day Cricket 1. adj. a form of cricket in which each side bats only one innings, played on a single day; also called limited overs cricket.

One-Day International 1. adj. a game of cricket of one innings per side, played on a single day, between sides representing one of the official Test nations, or other national sides in recognised tournaments such as the World Cup.

One-Day Match 1. adj. a game of cricket of one innings per side, played on a single day.

One Short 1. n. when one of the batsman fails to ground himself or his bat behind the popping crease before turning for an additional run.
2. n. the signal from the umpire indicating one short.

Open 1. v.i. to begin a side's innings as one of the initial two batsmen batting.
2. v.t. to open(1) a side's innings.
3. v. to open the attack.

Open The Attack 1. v. to bowl one of the first two overs of an innings.

Open The Face 1. v. to turn the face of the bat outwards away from the batsman's body, usually in order to hit the ball to the off side.

Opener 1. n. a batsman who specialises in batting at position 1 or 2 in the batting order; a batsman who normally opens an innings.

Opening 1. adj. describing the period of play at the beginning of an innings, often meaning up to the fall of the first wicket. The opening partnership was worth 100 runs.
2. adj. describing a batsman who opens the innings.
3. adj. describing a bowler who bowls one of the first two overs in an innings. He's a dangerous opening bowler.

Order 1. n. the sequence in which a side's batsmen go in to bat; the batting order.

Orthodox Spin 1. n. a synonym for finger spin.

Out 1. adj. the state of a batsman having his innings ended by the fielding team and having to leave the field for the next batsman to bat.

Outfield 1. n. the region of the field outside the rough circle bordered by the wicket-keeper, slips, gully, point, cover, mid off, mid on, midwicket, and square leg. cf. infield.

Outside Edge 1. n. the edge of a cricket bat farthest from the body of the batsman, on the off side as the bat is held vertically.
2. n. a deflection of the cricket ball off the outside edge of the striker's bat, usually travelling fine behind square on the off side, and often to the wicket-keeper or slips fielders for a catch. cf. inside edge, top edge, bottom edge
3. v.t. to hit the ball with the outside edge of the bat.

Outswing 1. n. swing of the ball through the air outwards away from the batsman. That ball had some outswing on it.
2. adj. describing a bowler who uses outswing(1) to move the ball. He is an outswing bowler.

Outswinger 1. n. a ball that swings through the air outwards away from the batsman.
2. n. a bowler who uses outswing.

Over 1. n. a series of six balls bowled by a single bowler in sequence.

Over The Wicket 1. adv. describing the method of bowling in which a bowler delivers the ball from the side of the wicket that puts his dominant hand closer to the wicket; opposite of around the wicket. He decided to bowl over the wicket to the batsman.

Overpitch 1. v.i. (of a bowler) to bowl a ball so that it bounces closer to the batsman than a good length, allowing the batsman to hit it easily.
2. v.t. to overpitch the ball.

Overthrow 1. n. when a fielder throws the ball back to the pitch area but it is not gathered there and continues into the outfield on the other side of the pitch.
2. n. a run scored by the batsmen because of an overthrow by the fielding side.


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