What is "carry the bat"

alt. (context cricket English) To bat throughout the whole of an innings, being one of the openers and remaining not out when 10 wickets have fallen. vb. (context cricket English) To bat throughout the whole of an innings, being one of the openers and remaining not out when 10 wickets have fallen.

In cricket, the term carry the bat (or carry one's bat) refers to an opening batsman who is not dismissed ("not out") when the team innings is closed.

The term is mainly used when the innings closes after all 10 wickets have fallen; that is, the other 10 players in the team have all been dismissed ("out"). It may also be used in situations where one or more of these players retire out or are unable to bat through injury or illness, and the remaining players are all dismissed normally. It is not used, however, in any other situation where the innings closes before all 10 wickets have fallen, such as when it is declared closed, or when the team successfully chases a set run target to win the match.