Batting order (cricket)

rdf:langString Batting order (cricket)

rdf:langString In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time. All eleven players in a team are required to bat if the innings is completed (i.e., if the innings does not close early due to a declaration or other factor). The batting order is colloquially subdivided into: * Top order (batsmen one to three) * Middle order (batsmen four to eight), which can be further divided into: * Upper middle order (batsmen four and five); and * Lower middle order (batsmen six to eight) * Tail enders (batsmen nine to eleven) The order in which the eleven players will bat is usually established before the start of a cricket match, but may be altered during play. The decision is based on factors such as each player's specialities; the position each batter is most comfortable with; each player's skills and attributes as a batter; possible combinations with other batters; and the match situation whereby, for example, the team may require a more defensive or attacking player at that point in the innings. Also, a middle order batter in Tests may open for ODIs and Twenty20 due to their aggressive approach to the game.