The consequences of "thrunging", "having a thrunge", or, being a "thrunger", can be embarrassing for the batsman.

The definition of the word "thrunge" can be as a verb (to thrunge) or as a noun (to have a thrunge). In either case, the meaning is the same. A Thrunger is a batsman who repeatedly thrunges or has a thrunge.

Thrunge (noun: Eng. Scottish derivitive) - a thrunge is a shot played by a batsman (in cricket), also known as a "Yahoo", resulting in failure to make contact with the ball and often causing embarrassing loss of balance.

Thrunge (verb: Eng. Scottish derivitive) - the actions and movements required for a batsman (in cricket) to play the thrunge shot.

Etymology

The term is a combination of "throw" (as in "to throw the bat") and "lunge". It was first, commonly, used by Grades cricketers in the late 70s. Originally employed as a pejorative (against the many "agricultural" batsmen in the lower grades, in particular, and at rural clubs generally), the term is now more frequently used as a self-deprecatory expression.

Famous thrungers

In the 70s, Grades cricket had a high level of thrungers, stereotyped as barrel-chested, aggressive (but invariably carefree, or, laissez-faire), often wearing a black belt and, almost always, batting without gloves. The highest concentration of thrungers could be found in the rural areas (Boddam, Fraserburgh, Crathie, for example) although many of the city teams had at least one thrunger in their ranks.

Most of them were regarded as extremely dangerous batsmen because of their ability to score quickly, especially against inexperienced bowlers, but most were vulnerable to the slower ball, perhaps the greatest defence against the thrunge.

Classic 70s thrungers (Alan Forbes is still playing) include:

• John Morgan (St. Ronald)

• Francie Farquharson (Crathie)

• Simon Davidson (Mannofield)

• Alan Forbes (Anchorians)

None of these can compare, however, to Bon Accord's Malik, perhaps, the archetype of the modern thrunger, often expert in other disciplines but crucially flawed (although still potentially dangerous) in his batting technique (or, more accurately, approach).

Related

The thrunge can be categorized as a "dinna".