What is the difference between Retired hurt and Retired out?

Rarely this law has been practiced by batters, especially in T20 cricket, due to the reason of the controversy it will trigger surrounding the spirit of cricket.

What is the difference between Retired hurt and Retired out?

R Ashwin was retired out in IPL 2022

There are several instances where a batsman was deemed retired hurt following an injury on the field. But what is retired out? Rarely this law has been practiced by batters, especially in T20 cricket, due to the reason of the controversy it will trigger surrounding the spirit of cricket.

But it indeed was practiced by none other than Ravichandran Ashwin earlier this year. During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Ashwin left the field after his 28 off 23, despite a 68-run stand for the fifth wicket, to invite a pinch-hitter Riyan Parag onto the field. Ashwin was considered retired out. He did not even take the permission of the umpire or gave any valid reason. If there is one player who fully utilizes the laws of cricket, he is Ashwin.

If a batter is struggling to score runs, and the opposition team is not able to dismiss him, then he can retire himself which in turn will bring a fresh batter who can accelerate the innings. It is a tactical substitution.

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What MCC’s law states about Retired hurt and Retired out?

Retired hurt and Retired out
R Ashwin was retired out in IPL 2022

According to the Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) law 25.4.2, “If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, that batter is entitled to resume his/her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as “Retired-not out.”

While, Law 24.5.3 states: “If a batter retires for any reason other than as in 25.4.2, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his/her innings are not resumed, that batter is to be recorded as “Retired-out“.

But the first instance of retired out was witnessed in 2001 during the 2nd match of the Asian Test championship between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Two Sri Lankan batters- Marvan Attapattu (201) and Mahela Jayawardene (150) retired out.

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