Cricket Substitutes and Replacements: What the Laws Allow

Cricket's substitution rules are more restrictive than in most team sports. Players cannot be freely swapped in and out — the starting XI is largely locked in. However, specific provisions allow replacements for injury, concussion, and in IPL cricket under the Impact Player rule.

Fielding Substitutes

A fielding substitute is allowed when a player is injured or ill during a match. The substitute can field anywhere on the field but cannot bat, bowl, keep wicket, or act as captain. When the injured player returns, the substitute leaves. This is the most common form of substitution seen in Test and international cricket.

Concussion Substitutes

The concussion substitute rule, introduced by ICC in 2019, allows a player who sustains a concussion to be replaced by a like-for-like substitute. Unlike fielding substitutes, a concussion replacement can bat, bowl, and field. The replacement must be approved by the match referee, who ensures the substitute is broadly equivalent in skills to the injured player.

Retired Hurt and Retired Out

A batter can retire from the crease due to injury or illness (retired hurt) and return later in the innings without permission from the opposition. A batter who retires voluntarily (retired out) requires the opposing captain's consent to return. Retired hurt does not count as a dismissal; retired out does.