Cricket clubs: jargon-buster

All rounder
Cricket clubs are always keen to find good all rounders—players skilled at both batting and bowling.

Ball tampering
Various dodgy attempts are known to be used by unscrupulous bowlers to alter the surface of the cricket ball and make it harder for the batsman to play. Methods include rubbing soil onto the ball which is highly illegal and any player caught doing it will have to answer to cricket club officials.

Collapse
A team experiences a collapse when several batsmen get out in quick succession.

Duck
If you're a batsman out for a duck, you'll be walking back to the cricket club pavilion without scoring a run.

Golden duck
If you're a batsman out for a golden duck, you're dismissed on the first ball bowled.

Howzat!
A cry you'll hear often during cricket club matches—an appeal by a fielder to the umpire, requesting a decision on whether a batsman is out.

Inswinger
A ball that swings in the direction of the batsman.

LBW
Leg Before Wicket. The batsman is hit by the ball and judged out because he is obstructing the stumps with his leg. LBW laws are complex and frequently the appeals from the cricket club pavilion and players on the field are ignored by the umpire.

Maiden over
An over in which no runs are scored.

Nightwatchman
A lower-order batsman who comes on to bat before the end of a day's play. Better batsmen will conserve their energy in the cricket club pavilion for the following morning's play.

Number eleven
If you're the number eleven batsman in your cricket club team, it's probably fair to say you're not the best batsman on the team.

Offer the light
As the light fails towards the end of a day's play, the umpire will offer the light to the team in bat to see if they want to continue playing or retire to the cricket club bar.

Rabbit
A very poor batsman, who plays in the cricket club team solely on bowling ability. When batting, he's the proverbial rabbit trapped in headlights.

Silly
A silly position is where a fielder is so close to the batsman that he's in danger of getting injured. For example, silly mid-off.

Sledging
The practice of insulting opponents to break their concentration is considered poor form at cricket clubs.

Twelfth man
Being the twelfth man in your cricket club team means you're the first substitute. Your responsibilities traditionally include carrying the drinks out to the players during breaks.

Whites
Most cricket clubs demand the game should be played in traditional whites—clean white pads, shirts and trousers.