What is Retired Hurt in Cricket

Over the years, cricket has witnessed the emergence of several new rules to enhance the game’s dynamics. Among these are the introduction of powerplays, the Decision Review System (DRS), and the use of pink balls for day-night Tests. Additionally, there is the “retired hurt” rule. 

So, what is retired hurt in cricket? In cricket, a batsman has the option to retire from an innings whenever the ball is dead. Upon retirement, they must be substituted by a teammate who hasn’t been dismissed. This is often due to injury or illness, allowing the batsman to resume their innings later if they recover.

Retired During a Cricket Match 

Retirement in cricket is governed by Law 25 of the Laws of Cricket, which delineates two forms of retirement. If a batsman is incapacitated due to illness or injury, they are classified as retired – not out and are eligible to resume batting upon recovery. Conversely, in all other scenarios, the batsman is deemed retired – out and cannot re-enter the innings unless the opposing captain grants an exemption.

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The MCC Law States

25.4.2: If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – not out’.

24.5.3: If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his/her innings is not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as ‘Retired – out’.

Retired Not Out 

Should a batting player sustain an injury, fall ill, or encounter any other exceptional circumstance necessitating their departure from the field, they can retire not out with the umpire’s approval.

If the retired batsman recuperates before the innings concludes, they may resume batting upon the dismissal or retirement of another batsman. However, if they remain unable to return, the batting team must declare its innings closed once all batsmen are out except for one who is not out or retired. Consequently, the innings may conclude even if the team has lost fewer than ten wickets due to retirements or other factors.

This scenario is called “retired – not out,” or “retired – hurt”. The batsman retains their ‘not out’ status for statistical analysis, such as when computing batting averages. Retired hurt meaning in cricket is often confused with retired-out, but both are different.

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Retired Out

If a batsman retires for any reason other than injury or without the umpire’s sanction, they are deemed to have conceded their wicket and are consequently out. Without an exemption from the opposing captain, the retired batsman cannot resume play. This event is logged on the scorecard as ‘retired – out’ and is regarded as a dismissal for statistical purposes, although it is not attributed to a specific bowler.

Only two batsmen have retired out in a Test match, with both incidents happening in the same innings. Sri Lankan cricketers Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene retired out during a match against Bangladesh in 2001. Their decision stirred controversy as they retired out to provide the rest of the team with batting practice.

Can retired hurt player play again?

Yes. Upon feeling better, the player can return to play again before their team’s innings ends. A batter who retires hurt can only resume their innings when another batter in their team is retired or a wicket falls.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the “retired hurt” rule in cricket embodies the sport’s commitment to player safety and fairness. By allowing players to temporarily exit the field due to injury or illness, with the possibility of returning to play later, the rule balances the competitive spirit of the game with the well-being of its participants. 

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