Biffer
Biffer is a cricketing slang term for an attacking batsman. A biffer is the opposite of a blocker, being a defending player.
In earlier times (particularly pre-World War II) cricketers were either amateur (Gentlemen) or professional (Players). Typically, but not universally, amateurs would be "biffers" and professionals "blockers".
The word derives from the slightly archaic transitive verb, "biff" which means "hit".
Today, biffers tend to be known as big hitters.
List of notable biffers in cricket history
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Gilbert Jessop (former first-class cricketer; one of the first biffers) - Ted Alletson (former first-class cricketer; in one innings broke several records, a clock and part of a bar)
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Shahid Afridi (current Pakistani Test all-rounder) - Sir Ian Botham (former England Test all-rounder)
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni (current India Test wicketkeeper-batsman) - Andrew Flintoff (former England Test all-rounder)
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Adam Gilchrist (former Australian Test batsman) -
Sanath Jayasuriya (former Sri Lankan Test all-rounder) - Keith Miller (former Australian Test all-rounder)
- Kevin Pietersen (current England Test batsman)
- Virender Sehwag (current India Test batsman)
- Yuvraj Singh (current India Test batsman)
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Sir Vivian Richards (former West Indies Test batsman) - Darron Foy (former Lancashire all-rounder)