How Do You Spell OVER WICKET?

Pronunciation: [ˌə͡ʊvə wˈɪkɪt] (IPA)

The spelling of "over wicket" is straightforward when you break it down phonetically. It is pronounced /ˈoʊvər ˈwɪkɪt/. The first part, "over," is pronounced with a long "o" sound followed by a schwa sound. The second part, "wicket," is pronounced with a short "i" sound and the stress is on the first syllable. "Over wicket" is a term used in cricket to describe a delivery that goes over the wicket (the set of three stumps and two bails that a bowler tries to hit to get the batsman out).

OVER WICKET Meaning and Definition

1. Over wicket is a term used in the sport of cricket to describe one of the three possible ways in which a bowler can deliver the ball to the batsman. It refers to the action of the bowler pitching the ball in such a way that it passes over the wicket, which is one of the two sets of stumps at each end of the cricket pitch. The wicket consists of three wooden stumps and two bails balanced on top of them.

   When the ball is delivered over wicket, it means that the bowler is bowling from the opposite side of the wicket to the batsman. This is usually the most common method of bowling, particularly for right-handed bowlers. It allows the bowler to aim for the stumps and attempt to dismiss the batsman in various ways, such as by hitting the stumps to get a clean out or inducing the batsman to play a shot that can be caught by fielders.

   Bowling over wicket is favored by right-handed bowlers as it allows them to have a better angle to attack the stumps and create an opportunity for a wicket. It also allows the bowler to generate more swing and spin, depending on the type of delivery being bowled. On the other hand, left-handed bowlers often prefer bowling around the wicket, which is the opposite of over wicket, as it provides a different angle and can create difficulties for right-handed batsmen.

   Overall, the term "over wicket" in cricket refers to the method of bowling where the bowler delivers the ball from the opposite side of the wicket to the batsman, aiming to dismiss them by hitting the stumps or inducing an error in shot selection.

Etymology of OVER WICKET

The term "over wicket" originates from the sport of cricket.

"Over" refers to a set of six consecutive legal deliveries or bowls in the game of cricket. It comes from the Middle English word "overe", meaning "end" or "boundary". In cricket, each team takes turns bowling and batting, and an over marks the end of a bowler's turn.

On the other hand, "wicket" refers to the set of three stumps (vertical wooden posts) with two bails (horizontal wooden pieces) placed on top of them. The wicket serves as a target for the bowler to hit and is protected by the batsman. If the bowler manages to hit the wicket and dislodge the bails, the batsman is declared "out".

Thus, "over wicket" primarily refers to a bowler aiming to deliver the ball towards the batsman's wicket.