Brace (cricket)

In cricket terminology, a brace refers to the achievement of taking two wickets in quick succession, or more simply, two wickets in the same spell or over by a bowler. The expression originates from older British sporting language, where the term brace means a pair or two of a kind. Thus, in cricket, when a bowler claims a brace, it signifies that they have taken two wickets close together—often altering the course of the match by creating sudden pressure on the batting side.
Although less common in modern statistical language, the term is still widely used by commentators and cricket writers, especially in traditional British and Commonwealth contexts, to describe a notable pair of dismissals achieved by a bowler.

Origin and Meaning

The word “brace” has its roots in Middle English and Old French (bras), meaning “two of a kind” or “a pair.” It was commonly used in field sports such as hunting or shooting to describe a pair of animals taken — for example, “a brace of pheasants.” Cricket, with its British heritage, adopted the term to indicate a pair of wickets taken by a bowler, maintaining the same metaphorical sense of accomplishment.
In the cricketing context, therefore:

• A bowler taking two wickets in an over or in successive deliveries may be said to have taken a brace.
• It can also be used more loosely to mean two wickets in an innings if both dismissals are considered part of the same effective spell.

Usage in Commentary and Reports

The term “brace” is primarily idiomatic and is most commonly encountered in commentary, match reports, and analysis rather than in statistical summaries. For example:

• “Anderson picked up a brace of wickets to put England in command before lunch.”
• “The spinner claimed a brace in his second over to trigger a middle-order collapse.”

While statistical language like “two wickets” or “2 for 20” is more precise, brace is stylistically preferred in descriptive or journalistic writing to add variety and traditional flair.

Significance in the Game

A brace, while numerically modest, can be highly significant in the context of a match, especially when achieved within a short period or against key opposition batters. Two quick wickets can change momentum dramatically by:

• Breaking an established partnership.
• Exposing the lower order.
• Increasing pressure on the new batsmen.
• Reviving a bowling side’s confidence during a dull session.

In limited-overs cricket, a bowler taking a brace often turns the match in their team’s favour by stemming the scoring rate or removing set batters at a crucial stage.

Comparison with Related Terms

The term brace is sometimes confused with other expressions that describe sequences of wickets.

Thus, while brace describes a smaller achievement compared to a hat-trick or five-for, it often represents a critical turning point in the flow of play.

Examples from Cricket History

Commentators have long used the term “brace” to describe match-defining bowling efforts. Some illustrative examples include:

• James Anderson frequently taking a brace in the opening overs of a Test innings, swinging the new ball to remove both openers.
• Lasith Malinga’s yorker brace in the death overs of limited-overs matches, which frequently disrupted opposition momentum.
• Anil Kumble or Shane Warne claiming a brace of wickets in one over to break key partnerships in Test matches.

In each case, the expression denotes the bowler’s ability to make double breakthroughs that change the direction of the contest.

Psychological and Tactical Impact

From a tactical viewpoint, taking a brace often generates psychological pressure on the batting side. Two quick wickets can:

• Force the incoming batsmen to adopt a defensive mindset.
• Encourage the bowling team to attack with close-in fielders.
• Shift the balance of control, particularly in long-format cricket.

Captains often respond to a brace by maintaining attacking fields or continuing the same bowler to capitalise on momentum.

Use in Batting Context (Informal Usage)

Although rare, the term brace can occasionally be used in batting commentary to describe two boundaries or two fifties scored by a batsman, though this is far less common. For example, “He struck a brace of fours off the over” simply means two consecutive boundaries.
However, its traditional and most accepted cricketing meaning remains associated with bowling achievements — a pair of wickets taken in a short period.

Linguistic and Cultural Retention

The use of brace reflects cricket’s linguistic heritage and the sport’s deep connection to British English idioms. Like other expressions such as maiden over, duck, or silly point, the term retains a flavour of the game’s 19th-century origins, making it a stylistic hallmark of cricket writing.
Even as modern statistical language becomes more dominant, brace endures in commentaries, especially in Test match coverage and traditional cricket journalism, as part of the sport’s rich descriptive vocabulary.