The Airplane
Self-explanatory. Where the bowler runs, arms outstretched like wings, towards fielders. Popular with Shoaib Akhtar, and Chaminda Vaas in his prime.
The "You-can't-see-me"
Favoured by Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore and other West Indians, who wave their hands in front of their faces in a Chinese-fan motion. Clearly they've watched plenty of the WWE, where John Cena patented the move.
The Assumption
Pioneered by Glenn McGrath, this consists of celebrating an lbw verdict before the umpire has actually given one. In fact, McGrath used to run on without even looking back at the umpire. Once a fine bluff, it can now lead to punishment.
The Hair-Ruffle
An Aussie thing, where the wicket-taking bowler has his hair very deliberately mussed up by almost every member of the side - whether he has hair or not. Probably designed to promote mateship or some such. Has been aped occasionally and feebly by India.
The Sajda
Preferred by Pakistan's mostly Muslim team, this is a religious ritual that became popular under Inzamam-ul-Haq: After scoring a hundred, the batsman kneels and touches his forehead to the ground. Before he became Muslim, Yousuf Youhana, Christian then, used to cross himself when he reached hundred - as Matthew Hayden still occasionally does when he gets to a landmark.
The Helmet Kiss
Pioneered by Michael Slater, who upon reaching his first Test hundred kissed the coat of arms on his helmet as if it were Kylie Minogue. Now a popularly accepted form of celebration, best executed by Kevin Pietersen, whose helmet-kissing should come with parental warnings.
The Retort Stemming from a desire to really stick it to someone.
Most memorably it came from Nasser Hussain in 2002 at Lord's. He got to an ODI hundred from one-down, and to his many critics in the media, pointed to the name on his back and then put up two fingers… or was it three? Sourav Ganguly's striptease at the end of the same match also qualifies.
The Family Man
Ricky Ponting made this one famous, blowing a kiss to his wife after adouble- hundred against India in 2003-04. Not as popular as expected since it first appeared, but sends out all the right messages, and no doubt will become more popular.
The Lawnmower
Brett Lee often pretends after taking a wicket that he needs to cut some grass. Duly he goes through the motions of pulling the ignition cord to rev up something that exists in his head. Sreesanth has taken to imitating the move in recent times.
The Chris Gayle
This could be anything, as long as it is delivered by Gayle with that sleepy, expressionless face: a slow windmilling of the arms, the forearm to the forehead in mock despair (as practiced by Ronaldo, the footballer) or just the ol' one-step, two-step jig.
The Chicken Dance
Ireland's giant-killing run in the 2007 World Cup regularly featured the sight of their players launching into a striking routine, where they flapped their arms like chickens. Shoaib has been known to perform a variant, usually when Pietersen is around.
