What is a 'Rabbit' or 'Bunny' in Cricket? Terminology Explained
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In cricket, a rabbit (or bunny) is a batter who consistently struggles — traditionally the worst No. 10 or 11. A bunny (specific) is a batter who repeatedly falls to the same bowler. Here's where the terms come from and famous examples.
The 'rabbit' term — origin
Used since the 19th century in English county cricket, 'rabbit' described a batter so weak they were hunted easily. Associated with tailenders who score single digits.
'Bunny' — a matchup-specific term
A player who is specifically vulnerable to one bowler, regardless of overall skill, is that bowler's 'bunny'. Rahul Dravid joked about being Glenn McGrath's bunny in the early 2000s.
Famous rabbits in cricket history
Chris Martin (NZ, Test batting average 2.3), Glenn McGrath (Australia, average 7.4).
Rabbit vs ferret vs bunny
Ferret = even worse than a rabbit (goes in after the rabbit). Bunny = matchup-specific vulnerability, not general weakness.
IPL 2026 examples
Pure tailenders rare in IPL — the Impact Player rule lets teams avoid exposing rabbit batsmen.
Related reading
Cricket terms explained glossary 2026 and how to improve batting technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 'rabbit' in cricket?
A weak tailender batter, traditionally scoring in single digits.
What is the difference between rabbit and bunny?
Rabbit = generally weak batter. Bunny = matchup-specific (falls to one bowler often).
Who is the worst batter in Test history?
Chris Martin (NZ) — Test average 2.3 over 71 Tests.
Who is a 'ferret' in cricket?
A batter even weaker than a rabbit — colloquially 'goes in after the rabbit'.
Is being a rabbit still common in T20?
Less so — Impact Player and shorter tails mean IPL teams rarely expose a rabbit.
The takeaway
Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, live schedule, and Dream11 tools. CricJosh refreshes every hub after every match.
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Rahul Sharma
Expert in: How To GuidesRahul Sharma has played district-level cricket in Mumbai for 8 years and has personally tested more than 50 bats, pads, gloves, and helmets across different price ranges. He joined CricJosh to help Indian club cricketers make smarter equipment choices without overpaying. His reviews are based on real match and net session use, not sponsored samples.
Why trust this review: Rahul has used every product in this review across multiple match and net sessions before writing a word. He buys equipment at retail price and accepts no free samples.
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