Know your English
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Kumar
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Re: Know your English
Why is a over without runs called maiden and first achievement in cricket called maiden? Seems contradictory? There is probably an explanation online, but wanted to see if some of the knowledgeable forum members know the reason?
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arjun2761
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Re: Know your English
The origins are likely not PC today but derived from maidens being virgins or untouched…
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prasen9
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Re: Know your English
Interesting that someone on Quora said: Hey, it's "bowl a maiden over" and not "bowl the maiden over" when someone asked what "bowl the maiden over" means in cricket 
lol. But that makes me think: what are the origins of bowling a maiden over in life (not cricket) ... one wonders?
lol. But that makes me think: what are the origins of bowling a maiden over in life (not cricket) ... one wonders?-
Kumar
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Re: Know your English
So which came first bowl the maiden over or bowl a maiden over?
Thanks, Arjun. I never thought that maiden in cricket got its origin from that perspective. I am still surprised that there is not protest against using ‘maiden’ to describe those achievements.
Thanks, Arjun. I never thought that maiden in cricket got its origin from that perspective. I am still surprised that there is not protest against using ‘maiden’ to describe those achievements.
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prasen9
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Re: Know your English
Nobody thinks about why we call it that. The Aussies at one time talked about some of these terms being changed, and some of them like batsman, etc. have been changed. I used batter when I do not specifically want to refer to the men's game.
Cricket lexicon change called for.
Although, I do not think fine leg actually refers to a fine leg. It is in the legside and when the batter gets a fine nick, the ball goes there. But, hey, if people want to enjoy a fine leg glance, who am I to prevent them? 
The Aussies at one time talked about some of these terms being changed, and some of them like batsman, etc. have been changed. I used batter when I do not specifically want to refer to the men's game.Cricket lexicon change called for.
Although, I do not think fine leg actually refers to a fine leg.
It is in the legside and when the batter gets a fine nick, the ball goes there. But, hey, if people want to enjoy a fine leg glance, who am I to prevent them?