Cricket Commentary Phrases Explained: A–Z Guide to Quirky Terms

Cricket Commentary Phrases Explained: An A–Z Guide

Cricket commentary has its own language — shaped by former players, radio voices, television legends, and decades of shared memory.

Regular viewers barely notice it anymore. But for someone new to the game, commentary can sound baffling, poetic, or downright confusing.

What does it mean when a batsman “throws the kitchen sink”? Why does everyone suddenly tense up in the nervous nineties? And how can a match be “wide open” even when one team seems firmly in control?

This is a curated A–Z glossary of quirky, colourful cricket commentary phrases. These aren’t textbook definitions — just the expressions commentators love to use, often without explanation.

Enjoy — and feel free to add more in the comments.

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🔤 A

Term	Meaning
Against the run of play	When something unexpected happens despite one team clearly dominating. Example: A wicket falling after a long, comfortable partnership.
Attritional cricket	Slow, grinding cricket where teams focus on survival rather than scoring — common in Test matches drifting towards a draw.

🔤 B

Term	Meaning
Beamer	A dangerous full toss that reaches the batsman at waist height or above without bouncing. Almost always called a no-ball.

🔤 D

Term	Meaning
Dancing in the aisles	An expression used to describe wild celebration among spectators, usually after a big moment like a wicket or a match-winning hit.
Dolly	A very simple catch — one that should be taken nine times out of ten. If it’s dropped, commentators usually react with disbelief.

🔤 G

Term	Meaning
Gone	A blunt, dramatic way of saying the batsman is out — usually delivered with excitement.

🔤 H

Term	Meaning
Hammer and tongs	When the batting side attacks aggressively, scoring runs rapidly with little regard for caution.

🔤 M

Term	Meaning
Make them pay	When a batsman capitalises on a dropped catch or missed run-out by going on to score heavily.
Missed by a whisker	When the ball narrowly misses the bat or the stumps — sometimes also called a “feather”.
Murderous mood	When a batsman looks destructive and intent on attacking almost every delivery.

🔤 N

Term	Meaning
Nervous nineties	The psychological pressure faced by a batsman between 90 and 99, when the fear of missing a century often leads to mistakes.
Nipped off the seam	When the ball deviates after pitching because it lands on the seam, moving either in or away.

🔤 O

Term	Meaning
Overthrow	Extra runs conceded due to a wild or inaccurate throw from a fielder.

🔤 P

Term	Meaning
Pair	When a batsman is dismissed for zero in both innings of a match.
Percentage cricket	Playing within sensible limits — balancing defence and aggression.
Purchase off the wicket	When the bowler extracts movement or bounce from the pitch after the ball lands.

🔤 S

Term	Meaning
Sold him down the river	When a batsman puts his partner in serious trouble — often resulting in a run-out — due to a poorly judged or late call.
Spun a mile	Used when a spinning delivery turns sharply after pitching, completely beating the bat.

🔤 T

Term	Meaning
That hit a crack	Said when the ball behaves unexpectedly after pitching, deviating or bouncing awkwardly because it strikes a crack or uneven patch on the pitch.
Throw the kitchen sink	A desperate or extravagant swing at the ball, usually missing it completely.
Throwing caution to the wind	Abandoning safety and playing with complete attacking freedom.

🔤 W

Term	Meaning
Wide open game	A match situation where any result is still possible.

🔤 Y

Term	Meaning
Yorker	A delivery that pitches right at the base of the stumps — extremely difficult to score off.

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Cricket commentary keeps evolving. If there’s a phrase you’ve heard often but never quite understood, drop it in the comments — I’ll update this list with credit.