Definition

Noun: 1. (Cricket) The player who is currently batting; the player whose turn it is to face the bowler and score runs for their team. 2. (Baseball) A player who is at bat; a batter. (Note: In modern American baseball terminology, "batter" is far more common than "batsman").

Usage

• The primary and most common usage is in the sport of cricket.
• In cricket, the term refers specifically to the player actively facing the deliveries from the bowler.
• While historically used in baseball, it is now considered an archaic or less common term in that sport, with "batter" being the standard.

Examples

• Cricket:
  • The opening batsman played a very defensive innings.
  • The team needs a new batsman to build a strong partnership.
  • She is one of the most aggressive batsmen in women's cricket.
• Baseball (less common):
  • The batsman stepped up to the plate. (More commonly: The batter stepped up to the plate.)

Advanced Usage

• "Nightwatchman": In cricket, a lower-order batsman sent in to bat late in the day to protect a more skilled batsman from having to face the bowling until the next day.
• "Top-order batsman": One of the first few batsmen in a team's batting lineup, typically the most skilled.
• "Tail-end batsman": One of the last few batsmen in the lineup, typically less skilled at batting.

Variants and Related Words

• Batter (n.): The standard term for the player at bat in baseball and softball.
• Batswoman (n.): The female equivalent, though "batsman" is often used as a gender-neutral term in cricket.
• Batting (n./adj.): The action or skill of hitting the ball with a bat (e.g., , ).

Synonyms

• For Cricket: Batter (also used, especially in commentary), striker (specifically the batsman facing the bowler).
• For Baseball: Batter (primary synonym), hitter.

Related Phrases

• "On strike": The batsman who is currently facing the bowler.
• "Non-striker": The batsman at the other end of the pitch, who is not currently facing the bowler.

Noun

1. (baseball) a ballplayer who is batting