Street Cricket is also known for its amusing usage of terms, a few of which are given below.
Mattai - Etymology Tamil - The piece of wood to be used as the cricket bat. Need not confirm to geometrical trivialities.
Gaaji - Etymology Unkown - The indian reference for an 'inning'. It is a well known fact that captains of street cricket teams always prefer to bat first irrespective of conditions.
Double Gaaji - Etymology Unkown - An excpetional scenario wherein a batsman can bat twice if there are a shortage of players in the side.
Osi Gaaji - Etymology Unkown - A scenario where some stranger wants to bat for a couple of balls just for fun and then carry on with his work
Over Gaaji - Etymology Unkown - The act of a selfish batsman who purposely retains strike by taking a single of the last ball of the over to enjoy more "Gaaji"ing
Last Man Gaaji - Etymology partly english- A scenario where the last man who is not out with all wickets down gets to play "Gaaji" with no runner. It must be noted that, the fielding team can effect run outs on both the stumps when there is L! ast Man Gaaji
Current - Etymology English - The unique and distinctive way of getting a batsman run out. When a batsman attempts a dangerous run, He could be run out by any of the fielders who just need to land their feet on the stone at the bowlers end.
Adetail - Etymology English - The most funny reference to a batsman being 'Retired Hurt'. [Derived from: At the Tail]
Return Declare - Etymology Unkown - Same as 'Adetail'. But sometimes used, when a batsman crosses a stipulated number of runs say 20 or bats for stipulated number of balls so that others can get a share of "gaaji"ing
Bongu - Etymology Tamil - The slang word used if a team unfairly cheats the other team while playing.
Full Cover - Etymology English - A situation where in a batsmen is taking a half stump guard thereby covering the complete stumps from the view of the bowler. Since stre! et cricket typically do not have a LBW it is very difficult to get a batsman out, if he covers the stump fully
One pitch catch - Etymology English - A rule where a batsman gets out when a fielder catches it even after the ball pitches once. Typically street cricket batsmen do not go for lofted shots fearing to get out (refer the first paragraphy to know why lofted shots are not allowed in street cricket)
One pitch one hand - Etymology English - A slight modification of the above rule where a fielder can use both hands if catching the ball full toss, but has to use only one hand, if the catch is "one-pitch". Typically used to increase the chances of batsmans survival
Sundu - Etymology Tamil- A great forefather of the now popular "super-sub" rule, this rule can be used if a Sothai (poor or bad) batsman's innings has to be played by a good batsman
La Ball - Etymology Tanglish - Last ball of an over
Full fast - Etymology English - Since street cricket pitches are a few yards long, a ball which is thrown with full pace and energy is considered a no ball as it will be impossible to handle such pace with short distance
Thuchees - Etymology Unknown- When batsman/any fielder gets distracted from the game due to highly technical reasons like a vehicle crossing the road when a ball is bowled (with the pitch perpendicular to the road)
Waiteees - Etymology Unknown- Same as 'Thuchees'
Common Fielding - Etymology English- Due to lack of number of fielders, it is possible that people from batting team who are not actually doing batting have to field or do wicket keeping or for that matter even umpiring
Ball Right - Etymology English- When a umpire/batsman declares a wide ball, bowler uses this term to say that the ball was not a wid! e. Typically happens because umpires are from the batting teams.
Dokku - Etymology Unknown- A derogatory term for a defensive shot. Typically a batsman is discouraged from playing such shots because of the constraints of less number of overs and because everyone in the team needs to have a fair amount of gaaji
Baby Over - Etymology English- When a bowler has no hopes of completing his over with lots of wides and no balls he is substituted by a better bowler and the over is called a Baby over, Baby because the first bowler was very amateur
Chain Over - Etymology English- When a bowler bowls two continuous overs. Typically happens when captains fail to calculate correctly the number of overs in the absence of electronic score cards
Uruturadhu - Etymology Tamil- When the bowler is unable to extract any meaningful bounce from the pitch. Sometimes used as a defensive tactic t! owards the deck.
Thadavuradhu - Etymology Tamil- (In the context of cricket) When a batsman is not able to make any contact with the ball using his bat.
Suthuradhu - Etymology Tamil- Same as slogging in cricket towards the deck.
Avishot - Etymology English- Appeal to Umpire for out(run out, catch, etc)
One Side Runs - Etymology English- When teams decide before hand that there are runs only on one side of the wicket due to lack of sufficient number of fielders
Granted - Etymology English- When a batsman hits a reasonable distance from which fetching the ball back is slightly difficult due to technical difficulties already mentioned (like vehicle crossing a road, presence of a thorny bush etc), teams agree that a fixed number of runs are GRANTED
Trials - Etymology English- This is the first ball bowled in the match and it ! is called trials. It is used to gauge the pace and bounce of the pitch and the ball by both batsman and the bowler. Note: The batsman is not supposed to hit this ball, else the fielding will demand him to go and fetch the ball. It's a kind of tactic by the fileding team to not allow the batsman to free his arms.
All-reals..first ball - Etymology English- This indicates the start of the match. Usually the batsman prefer to play "dokku".
Hit the bats after each ball (no term used) - This is the usual practice followed by the batsmen in the middle. This gives little time to take breath and also signal for a quick signal in the next ball. The best part is even if they dont want to discuss anything, they still need to hit the bats. If they miss or doesn't do it properly, they have to come back and make sure that they hit properly. Nice practice.
I think the last one takes the cake!!! I myself have done that so many times not knowing why I had to do it!!! :)
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