Glossary of Cricket Terms - G

G

Gardening

a batsman prodding at the pitch with his bat between deliveries, either to flatten a bump in the pitch, to soothe his own frazzled nerves or simply to waste time or upset the rhythm of the bowler. Considered facetious as there is not really a point to it.

Gazunder

(used primarily in Australia) a delivery that fails to bounce to the expected height after bouncing, thus beating the batsman and "goes under" the bat. Often results in batsmen being out bowled.

Getting one's eye in

when the batsman takes his time to assess the condition of the pitch, ball or weather etc before starting to attempt more potentially risky strokes.

Given man

given men were players in the early history of cricket who did not normally play for a particular side but were included, for a particular fixture, to strengthen it. Early first-class matches were usually the subject of big wagers and it was therefore desirable that the two sides should be perceived as being of roughly equal strength. The concept is similar to that of handicapping in modern-day horse racing, whereby horses carry different weights in an attempt to equalise their chances of winning, again to encourage betting.

Glance

the shot played very fine behind the batsman on the leg side. A glance is typically played on a short-pitched ball. See also flick.

Glove

part of a batsman's kit worn to protect the hands from accidental injury. When a hand is in contact with the bat it is considered part of the bat and so a player can be given out caught to a ball that came off the glove hence "gloved a catch."

Glovemanship (also Gauntlet work)

the art of wicketkeeping. e.g. 'A marvellous display of glovemanship from the wicketkeeper.'

Golden duck

a dismissal for nought (zero), from the first ball faced in a batsman's innings. ( cf Platinum duck )

Golden pair (also King pair)

a dismissal for nought (zero) runs off the first ball faced in each of a batsman's two innings of a two-innings match (see this list of Pairs in test and first class cricket).

Good length

the ideal place for a stock delivery to pitch in its trajectory from the bowler to the batsman. It makes the batsman uncertain whether to play a front-foot or back-foot shot. A good length differs from bowler to bowler, based on the type and speed of the bowler. The "good length" is not necessarily the best length to bowl, as a bowler may wish to bowl short or full to exploit a batsman's weaknesses.

Googly (also wrong'un or bosie)

a deceptive spinning delivery by a leg spin bowler which spins the opposite direction to the stock delivery. For a right-hander bowler and a right-handed batsman, a googly will turn from the off side to the leg side. Developed by Bosanquet around 1900.

Gouging

causing intentional damage to the pitch or ball.

Grafting

batting defensively with strong emphasis on not getting out, often under difficult conditions.

Green top

a pitch with an unusually high amount of visible grass, that might be expected to assist the pace bowlers.

Grip

the rubber casings used on the handle of the bat; alternatively, how the bowler holds the ball and how the batsman holds the bat.

Groundsman (or curator)

a person responsible for maintaining the cricket field and preparing the pitch.

Grubber

a delivery that barely bounces.

(Taking) guard

the batsman aligning his bat according with a stump (or between stumps) chosen behind him. Typically, the batsman marks the position of the bat on the pitch. The marking(s) give the batter an idea as to where he or she is standing in relation to the stumps.

Gully

a close fielder near the slip fielders, at an angle to a line between the two sets of stumps of about 100 to 140 degrees.