Obstructing the field -- Another rare means of dismissal. A batsman who causes an intentional obstruction to the fielding side may be given out. The kind of accidental collision that occasionally results from two players watching the ball is not considered an infringement of this law. See also Out.

ODI -- One Day International.

Off-break -- A ball spun by the bowler so as to turn from off to leg for a righthanded batsman.

Off-cutter -- Fast bowler's delivery that turns sharply towards a righthanded batsman after pitching. Is performed by "cutting" the fingers across the seam of the ball at delivery.

Off drive -- A drive between cover and mid-off..

Offer the light -- Strictly speaking, the opposite. The law requires the umpires to determine that the light is unfit for play (see Bad light), and then to ask the batsmen if they wish to continue in the unfit conditions. If they do, play continues until the light deteriorates further and the umpires repeat the offer.

Off side -- The side of the pitch away from the batsman's legs as he faces the bowler, i.e. to the bowler's left for a right-handed batsman.

Off-spinner -- Bowler whose primary delivery is the off-break

Off stump -- Of the three stumps which comprise a wicket, the one to the off side. See also Leg stump and Middle stump.

On side -- Alternative term for leg side.

One-day cricket -- Term usually used to denote cricket played between first class teams but not under first class conditions. The matches are of only one innings a side, and are decided by the number of runs each side scores in a pre-determined number of overs -- 50 in one-day internationals, 40 or 60 in other competitions -- so almost every match produces a winner (except for a tie or a washed out match).

One-day specialist -- A player whose game is considered more suitable for the one-day format than for first-class cricket. For a batsman, this means favouring quick scoring over the concentration required to build a long innings. One-day bowlers are more prized for accuracy and economy than for aggression and wicket-taking ability. Sharp, athletic fielding is valuable in any kind of cricket, but is especially critical under limited-overs rules.

One short -- The umpire's call and signal (touching right hand to right shoulder) when either batsman fails to make his ground when turning for a second or subsequent run. Although the subsequent run is also, by definition, short, only one run is disallowed. The enforcement of this law depends on the vigilance of the umpires. At first-class level, each umpire will move as soon as the ball is hit into a position from which he has a clear view of the popping crease.

Open the face -- Turn the face of the bat to the off side. Not really commensurate with the principles of straight bat and 'in the V', but popular in the one-day game to direct the ball into gaps in the field.

Openers -- The two batsmen who commence a team's innings. Since they will be facing fresh, fast bowlers with a new ball, these are usually the two most disciplined, if not necessarily most skilful, batsmen in the team.

Orthodox spinner -- See Finger spinner.

Out -- There are numerous ways for a batsman to get out. See Bowled, Caught out, Handled the ball, Hit the ball twice, Hit wicket, Leg before wicket, Obstructing the field, Run out, Stumped, Timed out.

Outfield -- The area between the infield and the boundary. A shot hit into the outfield is usually worth at least one run, even if it goes straight to a fielder.

Outswinger -- Swing delivery that moves in the air away from a right-handed batsman. The bowler's intention is usually to hit the outside edge of the bat and offer a catch to slips or wicketkeeper.

Over -- A series of consecutive balls. bowled from one end by one bowler. The international convention for an over is now six balls, although overs of four and five balls were common before 1900, and Australia and New Zealand only recently abandoned their customary eight-ball overs. No-balls and wides do not count as part of an over, so a bowler who bowls one must bowl an extra ball to compensate. Alternate overs are bowled from opposite ends of the pitch, and no bowler may bowl two overs consecutively.

Overarm -- The usual style of bowling in modern cricket, in which the ball is released above the head and bounces once before reaching the bat. According to legend, it was invented in a nineteenth-century English back garden by a girl in a crinoline, whose skirt was too full to let her bowl underarm to her brothers. Whether, when she beat the outside edge for the third time in an over, she also invented the phrase 'Good Sir, you are indeed a most fortunate bleeder', history does not record.

Over (umpire's call) -- The umpire's call after six fair balls have been bowled, or as close as he can guess to six after he dropped all his counting stones trying to signal One Short.

Overpitched -- A ball whose length allows the batsman to play forward and meet the pitch of the ball.

Overseas player -- Under current rules, English county clubs are allowed to employ one player who is not qualified to play Test matches for England.

Overthrow -- A throw from a fielder that passes the wicketkeeper, or fielder at the stumps, and enables the runners to add more runs to their total.. If an overthrown ball crosses the boundary, four runs are added to those the batsmen have run.

Over the wicket -- The position of the bowler relative to the wicket, such that his bowling arm is between his body and the wicket. A right-arm bowler will therefore bowl to the left of the wicket. See also Round the wicket.