Simon Hughes
Danger area - the
business area of the pitch in line with the stumps, which must not be damaged by bowlers following through after they have bowled, or batsmen taking a run.
Dead ball - the umpire
will call this if the ball has become lodged in the batsman's pad or clothing,
or if it has slipped out
of the bowler's hand and dribbled into the outfield.
The ball is always 'dead'
once it is safely in the
keeper's gloves and no
one is attempting a run.
Declaration - a captain
can declare his team's innings closed at any time (i.e. before all the wickets have fallen). This is particularly likely if a team have built up a big score and fancy a few overs bowling in the evening, or when setting up a run chase on the last day.
Dolly - an easy catch that lobs to the fielder without him having to move. Its derivation is thought to be from the Anglo-Indian word 'dolly' meaning a friendly offering
of food.
Dot ball - a delivery off which no runs are scored,
so called because it is recorded in the scorebook
as a plain dot.
Draw - this is not quite in
the football sense of the term, since it is a more inconclusive result in cricket. Basically, any match in which the side batting last falls short of the required target but isn't bowled out (or any match ruined by bad weather).
Drifter - a spin bowler's delivery that doesn't turn but deviates gently in the air.
Duck - a score of nought, originating from 'making a duck's egg'.
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Copyright © Simon Hughes 2001
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