Bullish about prospects

What it is supposed to mean We're looking to go out there and give them what for.

What it really means I'm praying pretty hard.

As in "We're quite bullish about our prospects against the Queensland Bulls."

Taking it game by game

What it is supposed to mean We're living in the present.

As in "We haven't won anything in the last six years and are in danger of being demoted to Associate status, so we've decided to just take it game by game." What it really means I've forgotten who we're playing next.

Catch is the call

Used when The ball is going to land at least seven metres or more from the fielder closest to it, but the commentator feels the need to scream to indicate how exciting the game is.

What it means The bowler's gone for 60 off 7 overs, so he needs to try and put some of the blame on the rest of the side.

Partnerships are the key

What it is supposed to mean We can't win unless at least two people stay out there and score runs.

As in "We need a big one. Partnerships are the key. These two need to stick around. At least one of these two has to hang around. Or any two out of the next four. Or something."

What it really means These idiots need to stop running each other out.

Good areas

What it is supposed to mean Land the ball in places where the batsman finds it difficult to score.

As in "Bondy gives us good lengths, channels, vectors, good areas"

What it really means I was forced to come to this press conference.

Things have a habit of coming back to bite you

What it's supposed to mean Who knows what'll happen three overs down the line?

What it really means "I think using phrases with the word "bite" in them gives more bite to my commentary."

A different ball game

What it is supposed to mean You need different skills for the different formats.

As in "Swaziland may be the tiniest of minnows, but watch out for their sharp piranha-like teeth in the Twenty20s. It's a totally different ball game."

What it really means "Oh god, we're playing five ODIs after the Tests? I want to go home."

Someone has to lose

What it's supposed to mean: You can't win them all.

As in: "The boys gave it their all, but the other side got to 450 for 2, the umpiring was an atrocity, we got food poisoning on the third day and the pitch was a bog… someone has to lose, you know."

What it really means: We lost. We're rubbish.

Still in the game

What it is supposed to mean So it's 50 for 3, but you can't rule anything out.

As in "The side batting second have a long tail, they're carrying three passengers and they've lost both openers in the first five, but they're still in the game".

What it really means These no-hopers deserve to be demoted, but we can't say that on air, can we?