Runners in Cricket
What is a runner in cricket? How they work, why they are now largely abolished in international cricket, and what the Laws say.
A runner in cricket was a player who ran between the wickets on behalf of an injured batsman who was unable to run properly. The runner wore the same protective equipment as the batsman and completed all running — the batsman remained at the crease and played their shots.
Why Runners Were Abolished in International Cricket
Runners were abolished from international cricket (ICC-level matches) in 2011 and the Laws were updated in 2017 to reflect that runners are no longer used at the highest level. The reason: runners created tactical abuse (teams claimed injuries to slow the game or gain unfair running advantages) and caused confusion over run-out decisions.
What Replaced Runners?
In international cricket, an injured batsman must either bat and run as best they can or retire hurt and return later if they recover. If the batsman cannot run and is not dismissed, they retire hurt and are replaced in the batting order. They may return to bat if medically able.
Historic Runner Rules
Under the old rules a runner had to wear the same protective equipment as the batsman. Both the batsman and the runner were potential targets for run-outs — the batsman at the striker's end, the runner at the non-striker's end. This created complex run-out scenarios that confused umpires and players alike.
Frequently asked questions
Can a runner be used in club cricket?
Depends on the competition rules. Some amateur and school competitions still use older Laws of Cricket that permit runners. Check the playing conditions of your competition.
What happens when an injured batsman retires hurt?
They retire from the batting order with 'retired hurt' noted against their name. They can return to bat if medically cleared before the innings ends — they resume their original position in the order or as the last batsman if others have been dismissed.