Definition

Noun: 1. The predetermined sequence in which members of a baseball or cricket team are scheduled to bat. It is a strategic lineup set by the team's manager or captain before the game begins.

Usage

The term "batting order" is used specifically in the context of team sports like baseball and cricket. It refers to the official list of players and the sequence they must follow when it is their team's turn to bat. This order is submitted to the game officials and generally remains fixed, though substitutions can alter it.

Examples

• The manager spent an hour deciding the perfect batting order for the crucial game.
• He was moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order to get more at-bats.
• The umpire checked the official batting order cards before the start of the inning.

Advanced Usage

• To set/decide the batting order: Refers to the strategic act of creating the lineup.
  • The coach's decision to set the batting order based on recent statistics paid off.
• To be in the [number] spot/position in the batting order: Describes a player's place in the sequence (e.g., "in the cleanup spot" typically means fourth).
  • As the power hitter, she is always in the fourth spot in the batting order.

Variants and Related Words

• Lineup (Noun): Often used interchangeably with "batting order" in baseball, though "lineup" can also refer to the starting players on defense.
• Batting lineup (Noun): A less common, full-phrase variant with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Lineup (in the context of offensive player sequence)
• Batting lineup

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific procedural term. Conceptually, the defensive team's arrangement could be contrasted, such as fielding positions or defensive alignment.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To turn over the batting order: This occurs when the sequence of batters loops back to the first player in the order, often a key strategic moment in a game.
  • If we can get a hit here, we'll turn over the batting order for the next inning.

Noun

1. (baseball) a list of batters in the order in which they will bat
   • the managers presented their cards to the umpire at home plate