Glossary of Cricket Terms - R

R

Rabbit

1. a particularly incompetent batsman, who is invariably a specialist bowler. While most lower order batsmen would be expected to occasionally score some useful runs, a rabbit is expected to be dismissed cheaply almost every time. Another term, ferret, refers to a batsman even worse than a rabbit (named as such because, in the wild, "a ferret goes in after a rabbit.")

2. A higher order batsman who is out frequently to the same bowler is referred to as that bowler's rabbit or bunny.

Rain rule

any of various methods of determining which team wins a rain-shortened one-day match. The current preferred method is the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Red cherry

a nickname for the red cricket ball. See cherry.

Referral

a request for an on-field umpiring decision to be reviewed by the third umpire. Referrals can initiate from the standing umpire, or under the Umpire Decision Review System, by the fielding captain or a batsman. Still in the experimental stage and not currently used for all Test series.

Required run rate

same as asking rate.

Reserve day

a vacant day in a touring schedule which can be used to replay or reconvene a match which is washed out. Mostly seen in the latter stages of major limited-overs tournaments.

Rest day

a non-playing day in the middle of a multiple day game. These were once common, but are seldom seen in the modern era.

Result

Retire

for a batsman to voluntarily leave the field during his innings, usually because of injury. A player who retires through injury/illness ("retired hurt/ill") may return in the same innings at the fall of a wicket, and continue where he left off. A player who is uninjured ("retired out") may return only with the opposing captain's consent.

Reverse sweep

a right handed batsman sweeping the ball like a left handed batsman and vice-versa.

Reverse swing

the art of swinging the ball contrary to how a conventionally swung ball moves in the air; i.e. movement away from the rough side. Many theories as to how this may occur. Usually happens with an older ball than conventional swing, but not always, atmospheric conditions and bowler skill also being important factors. It has been espoused that once the 'rough' side becomes extremely rough a similar effect to that of a dimpled golf ball may cause it to move more quickly through the air than the 'shiny' side of the ball. Invented by Pakistani fast bowler Sarfaraz Nawaz and later perfected by the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Rib tickler

A ball bowled short of a length that bounces up higher than expected and strikes the batsman in the midriff (usually the side) and hits several ribs.

Right arm

a bowler who bowls the ball with his or her right hand is, by convention, called a 'right-arm' or 'right arm' bowler (rather than 'right hand' or 'right-handed'). (Contrast "right hand batsman".)

Right hand

a batsman who bats right handed is a 'right hand' bat. (Contrast "right arm bowler".)

Ring field

A field which is set primarily to save singles, consisting of fieldsmen in all or most of the primary positions forward of the wicket, on or about the fielding circle (or where it would be).

Road

A very hard and flat pitch, good for batting on. Synonyms such as street, highway, etc. may sometimes be used in the same context.

Rogers

The second XI of a club or county. From the Warwickshire and New Zealand player Roger Twose.

Roller

a cylindrical implement used to flatten the pitch before play.

Rotate the strike

to look to make singles wherever possible, in order to ensure that both batsmen are continually facing deliveries and making runs. The opposite of farming the strike.

Rough

a worn-down section of the pitch, often due to bowlers' footmarks, from which spinners are able to obtain more turn.

Roundarm bowling

the type of bowling action in which the bowler's outstretched hand is perpendicular to his body when he releases the ball. Round arm bowling is legal in cricket.

Run

Run chase

The act/task of the team batting second (in a limited-overs match) or batting fourth (in an unlimited overs match), trying to win a match by batting and surpassing the runs accumulated by the opponent.

Run out

dismissal by a member of the fielding side breaking the wicket while the batsman is outside his/her crease in the process of making a run.

Run rate

the average number of runs scored per over.

Run up

see approach.

Runner

a player from the batting side who assists an injured batsman by running between the wickets. The runner wears and carry the same equipment, and can be run out. Since 2011, runners have not been permitted in international cricket, but can be used at lower grades.