Glossary of Cricket Terms - N

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. According to an established superstition, the score is unlucky and at that point a batsman is likely to be dismissed. The traditional measure to avert the bad luck, is for some of the people concerned (usually among the spectators) to stand on one leg. Scores of 222 and 333 are called Double and Triple Nelson respectively. The Australian term "Devil's number" or "Dreaded number" similarly refers to a superstition concerning a number traditionally regarded as unlucky.

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 a century.

Nets

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

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)

New rock

New (unused) cricket ball.

Nibble

When a batsman indecisively pushes at a delivery pitched outside of off stump, rather than leaving it or playing a committed stroke. Term derived from the tentative way a mouse has a nibble at cheese. Contact with the ball will often result in an edge to the wicketkeeper or slips.

Nick

Another term for edge or snick.

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 day's play.

No ball

an illegal delivery; the batting side is awarded one extra, the bowler must deliver another ball in the over, and the batsman cannot be dismissed by the bowler on a no-ball. Most usually a front-foot no ball, in which the bowler oversteps the popping crease; other reasons include bowling a full toss above waist height (see beamer), throwing, having more than two fielders (excluding the wicketkeeper) behind square on the leg side, or breaking the return crease in the delivery stride.

No man's land

an area of the pitch with no fielders near it. Normally used when a batsman mistimes a shot and is lucky that the ball does not land in a position where it can be caught.

Non-striker

the batsman standing at the bowling end.

Not out

1. a batsman who is in and has been not yet been dismissed, particularly when play has ceased.

2. the call of the umpire when turning down an appeal for a wicket.

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".