A cricket batter who retires because of injury, illness or another unavoidable cause has the right to resume the innings under MCC Law 25. A batter who retires for another reason can resume only with the opposing captain's consent. In either case, a return is allowed only when a wicket falls or another batter retires, subject to the applicable retirement conditions.
That is the practical difference behind the searches for retired hurt versus retired out. The reason for leaving determines the route back. Leaving the field does not always mean the innings is over permanently, but a player cannot simply walk back to the crease whenever they feel ready.
| Situation | Return condition under Law 25 |
|---|---|
| Illness, injury or another unavoidable cause | The batter is entitled to resume |
| Retirement for another reason | Opposing captain's consent is needed |
| Timing of a permitted return | At a wicket or another batter's retirement |
| Unavoidable retirement with no return | Recorded as retired not out |
| Other retirement with no return | Recorded as retired out |
What does retired hurt mean in cricket?
The familiar description retired hurt normally refers to an injury-related departure. The broader wording of Law 25.4.2 covers illness, injury and any other unavoidable cause. Under that provision, the batter is entitled to resume the innings. If the innings is not resumed, the formal record is retired not out.
The governing reference is the MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code, fourth edition for 2026. Law 25.4 separates the reason for retiring from the timing of a return. Reading both parts matters: the right to resume after an injury does not remove the requirement to wait for a permitted break in the batting partnership.
For example, imagine a batter leaves because of an injury and later becomes able to continue. If the two batters now at the crease are still playing, the returning player cannot interrupt their partnership merely because a treatment session has ended. Under Law 25.4.4, the return must wait for a wicket or the retirement of another batter.
What does retired out mean, and can the batter come back?
Law 25.4.3 deals with retirement for a reason outside illness, injury or another unavoidable cause. The batter can resume only if the opposing captain agrees. If the innings is not resumed, the record is retired out. The important qualification is that consent is possible under the general law; describing every such departure as absolutely irreversible misses that provision.
A hypothetical tactical retirement illustrates the distinction. A team might prefer a different batter at the crease and choose to end the current batter's participation for strategic reasons. That does not create an unconditional right for the first batter to return later. Under the general law, the opposing captain's consent is required, and the permitted return point still applies.
Suppose that consent is given while the new partnership is continuing. The consent answers whether the batter may resume, but it does not establish an immediate opening to return. The player still waits for a wicket or another retirement. These are separate questions, which is why a short scoreboard label can leave viewers uncertain about the actual position.
When must the umpires be told?
Law 25.4.1 allows a batter to retire during the innings when the ball is dead. Before play continues, the umpires must be informed of the reason for the retirement. This requirement matters because the reason determines which part of the rule applies. The subsequent record should follow the circumstances and the rule, rather than a television graphic alone.
For scorers and viewers, the useful sequence is therefore straightforward: establish why the player left, whether the batter resumed, and whether any necessary consent was obtained. If an injury-related retirement ends without a return, the law specifies retired not out. If retirement for another reason ends without a return, it specifies retired out.
Check competition playing conditions as well as the MCC law
MCC's official Laws overview explains that some levels of cricket use playing regulations which create differences from the general Laws. A competition's own conditions must therefore be checked when interpreting a particular match. This guide describes the MCC rule and does not claim to establish a special provision for every league or international format.
Retirement should also be kept separate from questions about replacing an injured player. Law 25.4 explains the departing batter's innings and possible return. A competition's substitute or replacement rules raise a different question. Our Test cricket concussion substitute explainer examines that separate approval process.
Other confusing scorecard situations have different starting points. The no ball guide concerns the legality of a delivery, while our free hit rules explainer concerns the next delivery and possible dismissals. For retirement, keep the focus on the reason for leaving, the requirement for consent where applicable and the moment at which the batter may resume.
