Fantasy cricket glossary
The words fantasy cricket players use, explained in one or two lines each.
Updated
A to Z
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| All-rounder (AR) | A player who both bats and bowls. Scores points both ways, so often a strong pick. |
| Announced lineup | The playing XI confirmed at the toss. Many games award points just for being in it. |
| Bowled/LBW bonus | Extra points for a wicket where the batter is bowled or out leg before wicket. |
| C / VC | Captain and vice-captain. Usually 2× and 1.5× points. |
| Chasing side | The team batting second. Often favoured at venues with evening dew. |
| Core | The four or five players you are most sure about, picked before the rest. |
| Credits | The budget used to pick players, commonly 100. Each player has a credit price. |
| Death overs | The last four or five overs of a T20 innings, when wickets and boundaries come quickly. |
| Deadline | The time your team locks, usually the scheduled start of the match. |
| Differential | A player few others pick. Useful in large leagues. |
| Duck | Out for zero. Costs points for batters, keepers and all-rounders in many tables. |
| Economy rate | Runs a bowler concedes per over. Low economy earns a bonus; high economy costs points. |
| Floor and ceiling | A player's likely worst and best scores. Small leagues favour high floors; large leagues need high ceilings. |
| Head-to-head | A contest between two teams. |
| Impact Player | An IPL substitute who can replace a player during the match. See our guide. |
| Large league | A contest with many teams, where finishing near the top needs some different picks. |
| Maiden | An over with no runs scored off the bat or as wides and no-balls. Worth a big bonus. |
| Playing XI | The eleven players a team fields in the match. |
| Powerplay | The opening overs with fielding restrictions: overs 1 to 6 in a T20. |
| Season-long | A format where you keep one squad across a tournament or season. |
| Strike rate | Runs per 100 balls faced. A high strike rate earns a bonus; a slow one costs points. |
| Toss | Decides who bats first and confirms the XIs. Most players finalise their teams after it. |
| Wicket-keeper (WK) | Scores from batting and from catches and stumpings. |