The sport of cricket is loved and adored by billions of cricket fans across the globe. It has gained immense popularity since its invention and continues to gain fandom in untouched corners of the world. Many people argue that cricket is the second-most followed sport on the planet after football and one of the reasons behind such popularity is its simple rules and application on the field of play.
However, not everything about the game is as simple as it can possibly get as there are a lot of terminologies associated with the sport that are nothing less than brain teasers for the fans.
One such terminology that often leaves cricket fans perplexed is "carrying the bat." The term is used very rarely as it is associated with a rare occurrence in the sport and hence even a lot of people who follow the game day in and day out aren't familiar with it. The term gained sudden popularity when South Africa's ODI skipper Temba Bavuma scored an unbeaten century (114* off 142 balls) at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on Thursday, September 7.
Playing against Australia in the first ODI of the five-match series, Mitchell Marsh won the toss and put the hosts into bat. Bavuma came to open the innings alongside fellow batter Quinton de Kock and remained unbeaten till the end as the Proteas got all out at a score of 222 in 49 overs. As Bavuma walked towards the dressing room, commentators on air were heard saying that the South African captain had registered his name in the list of batters to have carried their bats in ODI cricket.
What does "carrying the bat" cricket term mean?
The term is used for an opener batting through the innings and remaining unbeaten at the end despite the team getting bowled out within the stipulated 50 overs. It does not apply to a batter coming as an opener and standing tall till the end of the 50 overs with wickets remaining. In simple terms, it is used for an opening batter who remains not out after all the ten wickets have fallen and the innings comes to an end.
