How well do you know your cricket?
Don’t know the difference between an out and a six? You’re not alone. Get to grips with the various cricket terms and never miss another match again.
After the Sunfoil Dolphins’ winning game last Wednesday at Sahara Kingsmead Stadium, Captain Morné van Wyk took time out of practice to help everyone understand the gentleman’s game better. So the next time you look at the umpire, his gestures won’t be fiddlesticks.
Leg byes
This is not a case of the umpire calling for more protest action, he might be if too many of these are given away, but usually this is a signal for a leg bye. That is a run which is awarded to the batting team if the ball hits any part of the batsman’s body aside from his hand.
No ball
There is no need for anyone to be directing traffic on the field so it is best to clarify that the umpire is actually signalling for a ‘No ball’, a penalty against the fielding team. This is usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler.
Out
If you thought the umpire is hailing a taxi to the Durban City Centre, you would be wrong, but it would be understandable. This is the signal everyone on the fielding team plays for and the batting team works to avoid. It is for the dismissal of a batter by the fielding team, either through being bowled, stumped or caught out.
Six
After you see the umpire raise both his arms, the dancers are about to come out and a jingle is about to fill the stadium. You may have guessed it, the ball has been hit for a six. This means the ball did not bounce before going over the boundary of the field and six runs are awarded to the batting team.
Penalty runs
Everybody needs a good shoulder rub every now and then, but that would not be what the umpire is getting at here. This signal is given when a penalty run is awarded. Penalty runs are awarded to the batting team because of illegal moves by the fielding team. These include no balls, wides, leg byes and a few more where five penalty runs are awarded at once.
Wide
It may be a tough day of umpiring as the job can be a little stressful, but the umpire would not be calling for a group hug here. No, he is letting the players know that somebody has bowled wide, too wide for the batsman to reach, and that means the batting team is earning an extra run and they are playing an extra ball.
Still wondering how these gestures would be indicated by an umpire? Take a look at this quick demonstration:
Now to get you up to speed with some cricket slang:
Bouncer: 
What it’s not: A gigantic man dressed in black, asking you for your I.D.
What it is: A fast pitch that rises to chest level.
Spinner: 
What it’s not: A member of your spinning class.
What it is: A bowler who puts a lot of spin in the ball.
Flipper:
What it’s not: it’s not: Scuba diving gear.
What it is: An underhand throw which has a backspin.
Tail:
What it’s not: Someone who follows you everywhere.
What it is: The best bowlers in the team.
Full blooded: 
What it’s not: A pure breed horse.
What it is: Batting with full physical force.
Duck:
What it’s not: The cute swimming bird.
What it is: When a batsman is out without any runs.
Dolly:
What it’s not: The name you gave your favourite doll.
What it is: An easy catch.
Now that you have come to terms with the basics, get ready to apply your new-found knowledge at the next Sunfoil Dolphins’ cricket games taking place at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, at 18h00:
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