Batter to replace term batsman from upcoming T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council has decided to replace 'batsman' with the gender-neutral term 'batter' in all its playing conditions starting with this month's men's T20 World Cup. The ICC described the move as a "natural and overdue evolution" in the sport.

Last month, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) had announced it would be replacing the word 'batsman' with 'batter' in the Laws of Cricket.

"The ICC has been utilizing the term batter for some time now across our channels and in commentary and we welcome the MCC’s decision to implement it into the Laws of cricket and will follow suit with our playing conditions that are derived from the Laws," said acting ICC CEO Geoff Allardice in a statement.

"This is a natural and perhaps overdue evolution of our sport and now our batters are gender-neutral in the same way as bowlers, fielders, and wicket keepers."

"Of course language changes alone will not grow the sport, we must ensure that girls and boys who are inspired to play cricket have a fantastic, fun first experience and are both able to progress as cricketers without barriers,” he added further.

The ICC also reminded that until the turn of this century, using the terms fieldsman was common before the MCC stepped in 2000 with the change.