Thursday, October 22, 2009

N

Negative bowling

a persistent line of bowling down the leg-side of a batsman to stymie the batsman from scoring (particularly in Test matches).

Nelson

a score of 111, either of a team or an individual batsman, regarded by some as unlucky. To prevent bad luck, some people stand on one leg. Scores of 222 and 333 are called Double and Triple Nelson respectively.^[1]

Nervous nineties

the period of batsman's innings when his or her score is between 90 and 99. During this phase many players bat extremely cautiously in order to avoid being out before they obtain acentury.^[1]

Shaun Pollock in the nets

Nets

a pitch surrounded on three sides by netting, used by for practice by batsman and bowler.^[8]

Net run rate (NRR)

the run rate scored by the winning team subtracted by run rate scored by losing team. The winning team gets positive value, losing team the negative value. In a series, the mean of the NRR for all matches played by the team is taken. Alternatively, for a series, a team's NRR can be calculated as (total runs scored) / (total overs received) - (total runs conceded) / (total overs bowled)^[1]

Nick

1. An edge^[1]
2. Recent consistent form, either good or bad, especially while batting. A batsman who has recently scored a lot of runs is in "good nick", a batsman after a run of low scores is in "bad nick".

Nightwatchman

(in a first-class game) a lower order batsman sent in when the light is dimming to play out the remaining overs of the day in order to protect more valuable batsmen for the next days play.

No ball

an illegal delivery, usually because of the bowler overstepping the popping crease, scoring anextra for the batting side. Full tosses that pass above the waist of the batsman are also deemed no balls. See beamer.^[2]

Non-striker

the batsman standing at the bowling end.^[2]

Not out

1. a batsman who is in and has been not yet been dismissed, particularly when play has ceased.^[8]
2. the call of the umpire when turning down an appeal for a wicket.^[8]

Nurdle

to score runs by gently nudging the ball into vacant areas of the field. Also called milking around e.g.: "He milked the bowler around".^[1]

O

Odds match

a match in which one side has more players than the other. Generally the extra players were allowed to field as well as bat and so the bowling side had more than 11 fielders.

One Day International (ODI)

a match between two national sides limited to 50 overs per innings, played over at most one day.

Off break

an off spin delivery which, for a right-handed bowler and a right-handed batsman, will turn from the off side to the leg side (usually into the batsman).^[1]

Off cutter

an off break delivery bowled by a fast or medium-pace bowler which moves into thebatsmanafter hitting the surface. (The ball breaks from the off-side to the leg side of thebatsman.)(see In-Cutter)^[1]

Off side

the half of the pitch in front of the batsman's body as he takes strike. For the right handed batsman this is the right half of the pitch, looking up the wicket towards the bowler, and the left half for the left handed batsman. ^[1]

Off spin

a form of bowling in which the bowler imparts spin on the ball with the fingers as the ball is delivered, and for that reason also known as "finger spin". The usual stock delivery for an off spinner is an off break, but other off spin deliveries includes the arm ball and the doosra. The term off spinner is usually reserved for right handed bowlers who bowl in this manner. Left handers are described as orthodox or unorthodox.^[1]

On side

the half of the pitch behind the batsman's body as he takes strike i.e. the left half for a right-handed batsman and the right for a left-hander (also known as the leg side).^[1]

On a length

describing a delivery bowled on a good length.

On strike

the batsman currently facing the bowling attack is said to be on strike.

On the up

describes a batsman playing a shot, usually a drive, to a ball that is quite short and has already risen to knee height or more as the shot is played.

One-day cricket

an abbreviated form of the game, with just one innings per team, usually with a limited number of overs and played over one day.

One down

a batsman who bats at #3, a crucial position in the team's batting innings.

One short

the term used when a batsman fails to make contact with the ground beyond the popping crease, and turns back for an additional run.

Opener

1. a batsman skilled at batting at the beginning of an innings, when the ball is new.
2. one of the bowlers who open the innings, usually the fastest bowlers in the side.

Orthodox

1. shots played in the accepted "textbook" manner, and batsmen who play in this manner.
2. a left arm spin bowler who spins the ball with his fingers. This imparts spin in the same direction as a right-handed leg spin bowler. See: Left-arm orthodox spin.

Out

1. the state of a batsman who has been dismissed.
2. the word sometimes spoken while raising the index finger by the umpire when answering an appeal for a wicket in the affirmative.

Out dipper

a dipper that curves away from the batsman before pitching.

Outswing

a delivery that curves away from the batsman.^[1]

Outfield

the part of the field lying outside the 30 yard (27 m) circle measured from the centre of the pitchor, less formally, the part of the pitch furthest from the wickets.^[8]

Over

the delivery of six consecutive balls by one bowler.^[2]

Over rate

the number of overs bowled per hour.

Over the wicket

a right-handed bowler bowling to the left of the stumps, and vice-versa for a left-handed bowler.^[8]

Overarm

the action of bowling with the arm swinging from behind the body over the head, releasing the ball on the down swing without bending the elbow. This type of bowling is the only type normally allowed in all official cricket matches. Compare with underarm.

Overpitched delivery

a delivery that is full pitched but not a yorker, bouncing just in front of the batsman. Considered a poor delivery, as it easy for the batsman to get the middle of the bat to the ball. An overpitched ball is often a half-volley.^[8]

Overthrows also buzzers

the scoring of extra runs due to an errant throw from a fielder. Occasionally used erroneously for any runs scored after a fielder misfields the ball. Also the throw itself.^[8]