Glossary (updated 19th March 2013)

This glossary has evolved over several years. It is not comprehensive, and is a cricket forum glossary, not a dictionary, so terms in wider-than-forum-usage (eg 'LOL'), or popular forum catchphrases with very obvious meaning (eg 'get ****** Horrie') may not be listed. It is intended to exist as a depository for terms, words or phrases that have entered common usage in the forum, although others may be included because they tickle the compilers' collective fancy.

The earliest edition was collated by Zat and published by Nath, two ABC forumers, following discussions on the now closed ABC Cricket Forum in early 2003, in some sort of effort to make the place a little less bewildering to newer users. Several additions to the glossary were made before that forum abruptly closed later that year. Around this time, many ABC 'inmates' moved on to join the cricket forum administered by UK broadcaster C4, where they found an existing group of sometimes like-minded cricket 'tragics'. The glossary went with them, and grew further … with adoption of some pre-existing C4 terms, and development of new terms.

In 2007, sadly, usage of the C4 forum fell away, mainly due to inconsistent moderation and changed opening hours, at which point many of its inmates moved on to the Flaming Bails Cricket Forum (a short-lived informe-hosted Mark I, and the current Mark II). Updates to the glossary became less frequent during this period.

This version (4.2 by Zat's rather loose record-keeping) began as an unauthorised update by ex-ABC forumer lardbucket and FB editor Dello, before Zat came back on board. Many forumers have pointed out inaccuracies and omissions from previous additions, and the compilers thank them for their efforts. Some forumers have worked long and hard to create entries for the glossary, the compilers thank them for the sometimes entertaining conversations that ensued, but would like to remind them of the glossary purpose as outlined in the opening paragraph.

Any further growth will depend entirely on suggestions from ongoing forum contributors, and someone doing the compiling and editing work. A thread for glossary suggestions, amendments and commentary will periodically appear in the 'Announcements & Rikki' section of the main Flaming Bails Forum.

None of the ABC nor C4 nor forumotion administrators endorse this glossary, although if any of them would ever like to publish it as a book, Zat would probably be happy to accept the royalties!

- A word from Zat -

At one stage, this glossary was known as the "David Hookes, You Bloody Legend, Memorial Cricket Forum Glossary" at the suggestion of forum regular "tailender" on the C4 forum on January 20, 2004, "In honour of his ineffable contributions to the game and the Forum Glossary".

Providing further context to this suggestion, here's an article of mine originally posted on that forum on 19/1/2004 (subsequently edited for use here):

"Many will recall the Centenary test against England in 1977. His first test, and five successive fours off Tony Greig.

I had moved to Canberra in mid-1985, but went back to Melbourne for the Boxing Day test against India. I was very excited, as I was a teenager going on holidays without my parents for the first time, and looking forward to the cricket.

This match featured a young guy by the name of Steve Waugh, who many tipped for great things, making his debut.

It was also the last time in the baggy green cap for one David William Hookes. He scored 42 in the first innings, but in the second dig wound up with a first-ball gozzie. Fortunately for Australia, rain came and washed out the tail end of the match, meaning India didn't win. Come 4pm on the final day, it was obvious that the rain was not going to let up, and if I recall correctly, the team for the Sydney test had been announced. Without Hookes.

After the match had been declared a draw, I was one of the few left at the ground, and after hanging around outside the team rooms for a while, a group of supporters walked across to Jolimont railway station. For those who don't know, the station is en route to the Hilton Hotel, where teams, officials, etc used to stay for the MCG test.

Before our train arrived, we looked up at the pedestrian overpass, and saw three Aussie test cricketers making their way over the bridge to the hotel. I don't remember who two of them were, but I do remember David Hookes. He'd obviously decided to mark his omission from the next test, and the probable end of his career in the traditional Aussie manner. He was having trouble walking, and looked like he'd demolished half-a-day's output from the Carlton and United Brewery.

I'd heard the news that his Test career was probably over, and decided some encouragement for one of my childhood heroes was necessary ... and my teenage voice sang out loudly "ONYA HOOKESY YOU BLOODY LEGEND!" He looked down in my general direction. He probably didn't see who'd said it, but he waved, and gave a thumbs up …

I can't think of a more apt way to say farewell, than to repeat it.

ONYA HOOKESY YOU BLOODY LEGEND!"