A player nominated to act as a reserve in a game, typically carrying out duties such as fielding as a substitute, taking out drinks, etc.
Example sentencesExamples
- I'd go to practise and turn up to the match and I'd always be the twelfth man.
- In the evening as we sat on the large veranda, a discussion took place about the twelfth man being really only good for carrying drinks.
- At cricket grounds people seem most excited by the chance to glimpse a famous face - even if it's the twelfth man carrying a water bottle or a TV commentator stretching his legs.
- The teams will include a nominated captain and a twelfth man.
- In real life a twelfth man is needed in case of injury to one of the other eleven.