Yorker

Yorker is a term used in cricket that describes a ball bowled (a delivery) which hits the cricket pitch around the batsman's feet. When a batsman assumes a normal stance this generally means that the cricket ball bounces on the cricket pitch on or near the batsman's popping crease. A batsman who advances down the wicket to strike the ball (typically to slower or spin bowlers) may by so advancing cause the ball to pitch (or land) at or around their feet and may thus cause themselves to be "yorked".

The term is thought to derive from the 18th and 19th century slang term "to pull Yorkshire" on a person meaning to trick or deceive them, although there is evidence to suggest that the Middle English word "Yuerke" (Meaning to trick or deceive) may have somehow been the source.

A "yorker" is any delivery having the features described above and a batsman who has been "beaten" by such a delivery is said to have been "yorked". "Beaten" in this context does not mean that the batsman is bowled or given out LBW but can include the batsmen missing the ball with the bat.

As a batsman in his normal stance will raise his bat (backlift) as the bowler bowls which can make "yorker" difficult to play when it arrives at the batsman's feet. A batsman may only realise very late that the delivery is of "yorker" length and will "jam" their bat down to "dig out" the yorker.

A "yorker" is a difficult delivery to bowl as a mistimed delivery can either result in a full toss or half-volley which can easily be played by the batsman. A delivery which is intended to be a "yorker" but which does not "york" the bowler is known as an "attempted yorker".