Retired Hurt in Cricket Explained
What 'retired hurt' means in cricket, how it differs from 'retired out', and when a batter can return to the crease after retiring.
What Is Retired Hurt?
A batter is recorded as 'retired hurt' (also 'retired ill') when they leave the field due to injury, illness, or another unavoidable reason during their innings. The key distinction is that the absence is not voluntary — the batter must stop because they are physically unable to continue, not because the team or the batter strategically chooses to leave the field.
Can the Batter Return?
Yes — a batter who retires hurt may return to bat later in the same innings with the opposing captain's consent. However, in practice, the captain's consent is rarely denied — it would be considered unsportsmanlike. If the injury prevents return, the batter's innings ends without recording a dismissal, and their score stands as-is with 'retired hurt' in the scorecard.
Effect on the Score
A retired hurt is not a dismissal. The runs scored before the batter retired are credited to their total. If the batter does not return, their average is technically affected as if they were unbeaten (not out) — some scoring systems treat the innings as a not-out innings since no dismissal occurred.
Famous Cases
Phil Hughes (Australia) retired hurt in several matches during his career after being struck by the ball. Concussion protocols now require doctors to assess any batter struck on the head before they return — a process that often leads to a concussion substitute replacing the affected player.
Frequently asked questions
Is retired hurt the same as a dismissal?
No — retired hurt is not a dismissal. It does not count against the team's wicket total. The batting side continues with the next batter in line, but the retired hurt batter may return when fit.
What happens if a batter retires hurt at the end of an over?
The next batter takes the non-striker's end while the injured batter's partner faces the next over — unless the retired hurt batter can continue when they have had a chance to be assessed by medical staff.
What is a concussion substitute in cricket?
A concussion substitute is a replacement player who can bat, bowl, and field in place of a player who sustains a concussion. The substitute must be of similar batting or bowling ability and is approved by the on-field umpires and the match referee.