Terms used in a Match
Edges
Most of the time when the batsman hits the ball, it is hit cleanly, i.e. the ball hits the middle of the bat. However, sometimes, the ball hits the edge of the bat and can go anywhere in the field. Most of the balls that hit the edges produce a deflection, and are caught by the wicketkeeper.
There are four edges: Top-edge (near the handle), bottom-edge, inside-edge and outside-edge. The inside-edge (edge closest to the batsman) for a right-hander is the right side of the bat. Outside edge is the left side of the bat.
Dot Balls
If a run is not scored from a ball, it is called a DOT BALL (Zero runs).
Block Hole
The block-hole is the term used to describe the ideal ball to bowl in the death overs (40 - 50). The ball is pitched at the batsman's toes. If the batsman misses the ball, he is either bowled or out LBW. These sorts of balls are hard to score runs off.
How does the ball Swing?
The cricket ball consists of 2 leather halves with 2 parallel seams at the centre. The bowlers try to make the ball seam (swing or curve) in the air. This is done in the following manner:
After the ball is hit around & softened in the initial 10 overs, the spinners and swing bowlers bowl to exploit the condition ball. The two sides of the ball is divided into the smooth side and the rough side. The sides are decided by the bowlers at the start of the match.
The ball can be smoothened by friction. The action of the bowler furiously rubbing one side of the ball on his body, shines one side of the ball. The use of body fluids on the ball is allowed to give the ball weight. Bowlers rub their sweat, saliva etc. on one side of the ball to make that side uneven and heavy. That side of the ball is agreed upon by the team bowlers throughout the innings. The ball cannot be rubbed on the pitch.
BERNOULLI'S PRINCIPLE
Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782), the Swiss mathematician, stated that energy is conserved in a moving fluid (liquid or gas). If the fluid is moving in a horizontal direction, the pressure decreases as the speed of the fluid increases. If the speed decreases, the pressure increases.
In spinning a ball, the spinner makes the ball spin rapidly. As a result, the air speed is greater on one side of the ball than on the other. The resulting difference in air pressure produces a net force toward the lower-pressure side and pushes the ball along a curved path.
BALL TAMPERING
If artificial substances such as creams, petroleum jelly etc. are used on the ball; it will have a greater swing! This, being unfair, is not allowed. Also, if the seam is lifted by the bowler's fingernails, the ball has tends to have a greater swing.
Such practices are illegal and players risk suspension from further matches. This is called "Ball Tampering".
Yorker
A yorker is a ball pitched at the batsman's toes. Such balls are ideally bowled at the death overs, as it is extremely hard to hit. If combined with high speed and swing, (fast in-dipper), the ball is deadly.
Another useful option at the death overs, are the "change of pace" balls, where a deliberate slow ball is bowled at the batsman. If the batsman doesn't pick the change, he can get out, since the ball won't travel as far as he intended it to go.
Chucking
If you bend your elbow while releasing the ball, the umpire no-balls that delivery. This is called chucking, and is illegal, as it gives the extra speed to the ball. Repeated no-balls could find the bowler suspended by the umpire and possibly fined. A 5° limit is the maximum angle allowed by the ICC.