pace bowler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to Medium (Highly specific to cricket contexts)Specialist (Sport/Cricket). Neutral within its domain.
Quick answer
What does “pace bowler” mean?
A cricket player whose primary bowling skill is to deliver the ball at high speed, aiming to intimidate or dismiss the batsman through pace and bounce rather than spin or significant swing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A cricket player whose primary bowling skill is to deliver the ball at high speed, aiming to intimidate or dismiss the batsman through pace and bounce rather than spin or significant swing.
A cricketing role characterized by aggression, physicality, and the ability to generate raw speed from the bowling crease. The term can also metaphorically describe someone who adopts a forceful, direct, and aggressive approach in a non-cricketing context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in Commonwealth nations where cricket is played (UK, Australia, India, etc.). In American English, the concept is largely unknown, and no direct equivalent exists in baseball terminology.
Connotations
In cricket-playing nations, it connotes power, athleticism, and attack. In American contexts, the term would likely be unrecognized or misunderstood.
Frequency
Very frequent in UK, Australian, Indian, etc. sports media. Extremely rare to non-existent in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “pace bowler” in a Sentence
[Team] has a formidable pace bowler in [Name].[Name] was selected as the team's primary pace bowler.The [condition] pitch favoured the pace bowler.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pace bowler” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as a verb. 'Bowl pace' is the verbal phrase.
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A. The adjectival form is 'pace-bowling' as in 'a pace-bowling all-rounder'.
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'He's the pace bowler in our negotiations, applying pressure from the start.'
Academic
Only in sports science or sociology of sport papers focusing on cricket.
Everyday
Common conversation only in cricket-playing communities. Uncommon elsewhere.
Technical
Core terminology in cricket coaching, commentary, and analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pace bowler”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pace bowler”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pace bowler”
- Using 'pace bowler' to refer to any bowler. Confusing 'pace bowler' with 'swing bowler' (a subset). Incorrectly using it as a verb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern cricket commentary, the terms are essentially synonymous. 'Fast bowler' is slightly more common in general use, while 'pace bowler' is a standard technical term.
It is highly unusual. A player is typically specialised as either a pace bowler or a spin bowler. An 'all-rounder' might be competent at both batting and one type of bowling.
To dismiss batsmen by bowling the ball at high speed, causing difficulty through pace, bounce, and often movement in the air (swing) or off the pitch (seam).
Cricket is not a major sport in the United States. The sporting role of a pitcher in baseball, while analogous as a delivery person, is fundamentally different in technique and strategy, so the specific cricket terminology does not translate.
A cricket player whose primary bowling skill is to deliver the ball at high speed, aiming to intimidate or dismiss the batsman through pace and bounce rather than spin or significant swing.
Pace bowler is usually specialist (sport/cricket). neutral within its domain. in register.
Pace bowler: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪs ˌbəʊ.lər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪs ˌboʊ.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To open the bowling with a pace bowler.”
- “A battery of pace bowlers.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A bowler who sets the PACE of the game. He runs in fast to deliver the ball fast.
Conceptual Metaphor
AGGRESSION IS SPEED; A CRICKET TEAM IS AN ARMY (with pace bowlers as the frontline assault troops).
Practice
Quiz
Which player is most directly opposed to the role of a 'pace bowler'?