Retired Out and Retired Hurt in Cricket — What the Rules Say
The difference between retiring out and retiring hurt in cricket: when a batsman can leave the field, whether they can return, and famous examples of batsmen retiring from the game.
Cricket's Laws allow a batsman to leave the field during their innings in certain circumstances. There are two distinct categories: 'retired hurt' (or 'retired ill') — where a batsman leaves due to injury or illness and may return — and 'retired out' — where a batsman leaves for any other reason (usually tactical) and is considered dismissed unless the fielding captain consents to their return.
Retired Hurt — Injury or Illness
Under Law 25.4, if a batsman is injured or becomes ill during their innings, they may retire from the crease with the umpire's permission. A retired hurt batsman may return to complete their innings later — but only if they recover sufficiently and their turn in the batting order has not passed (i.e. the innings is still in progress and there are still wickets available). The batsman's score is retained and they continue from where they left off.
Retired Out — Tactical or Voluntary
If a batsman retires for any reason other than injury or illness, they are 'retired out' — a dismissal that counts against their record. The batting side loses a wicket. Retired out is rare but has been used tactically in declaration scenarios (where the captain retires batsmen rather than formally declaring) or in exhibition matches. In limited-overs cricket, a batsman cannot bat again once retired out.
Retired Out in T20 Cricket — Tactical Innovation
In recent years, some T20 teams have used 'retired out' tactically — a set batter retires to allow a better match-up against the current bowling. This is particularly discussed in franchise cricket. However, since it costs a wicket, most teams prefer conservative batting changes. Some leagues have experimented with 'power player' rules to avoid this conundrum.
Is Retired Out Counted in Statistics?
Yes. A retired out dismissal is recorded in the batsman's career statistics as a dismissal, affecting their batting average calculation. Retired hurt innings are not counted as dismissals — those innings remain as 'not out' in the statistics. This matters significantly for batting average calculations at the elite level.
Frequently asked questions
Can a batsman return after retiring hurt in cricket?
Yes. A batsman who retires hurt may return to complete their innings later in the same innings, provided there are still wickets remaining and they have recovered sufficiently.
Does retiring out count as a dismissal in cricket?
Yes. If a batsman retires for any reason other than injury or illness, it is 'retired out' and counts as a dismissal affecting their batting average.
Can a batsman retire hurt in T20 cricket?
Yes. The retired hurt rule applies across all formats of cricket — Tests, ODIs, and T20s. The batsman may return if recovered, subject to the innings still being in progress.