Retired Hurt in Cricket
What does 'retired hurt' mean in cricket? The difference between retiring hurt (can return) and retiring out (cannot return), and how it affects the batting order.
Retired hurt is a batting status in cricket where a batsman leaves the crease during their innings due to injury, illness, or other unavoidable cause. Unlike a dismissal, the batsman is not out — they may return to bat later if they recover during the same innings.
Retired Hurt vs Retired Out
| Status | Cause | Can return? |
|---|---|---|
| Retired hurt | Injury or illness — involuntary | Yes — if medically cleared before the innings ends |
| Retired out | Voluntary — batsman chooses to leave | No — only with the opposition captain's consent |
Impact on the Batting Order
When a batsman retires hurt, the next batsman in the order comes in immediately. The retired-hurt batsman may return to bat at any time before the innings ends, but typically resumes at the fall of the tenth wicket (as the last available batsman) to protect lower-order tail-enders.
Scorecard Notation
On a scorecard, a retired-hurt batsman's name is listed with the note 'retired hurt' and the runs scored up to that point. If they return and add more runs, the total is updated. If they do not return, the figure stands.
Frequently asked questions
Is a retired hurt batsman counted as 'out'?
No — retired hurt is not a dismissal. It does not count as a wicket in the scorecard or in bowling statistics.
Can a batsman retire out in international cricket?
Yes — retired out (voluntary retirement) is legal. The batsman retires by informing the umpires. Retired out counts as a dismissal in the scorecard.