In cricketing terms, ‘retired hurt’ is a player getting out of the field due to some injury or sickness during the batting with the possible intention of coming back to bat at a later stage. It is a particular norm that may not have been well understood by most fans who do not follow cricket constantly. In this blog, we will explore five things that one needs to consider for the ‘retired hurt’ term and how it applies in the game of cricket.
Batsman can return later
Another discouraging factor is the fact that ‘hurt’ means that the batsman could come back and bat at a later stage once he has recovered, unlike in ‘retired hurt’ where the batsman has no more chance of occupying the crease. Therefore, if a tailender has half his face blown off by a bouncer, he can get up limping after facing five balls early in the day, come back much later in the day after a higher-order batter has been dismissed, and then continue just where he left off.
It is mandatory to be hurt or sick
No batsman can just make up their mind that they want to take a break or even get thirsty and go off the ground with retired hurt. Applicants must also have incurred an illness or injury that they are suffering from or that they carry with them. Often, it is some sort of injury, such as pulling a hamstring muscle while scoring between the wickets. But it could be heat exhaustion or stomach cramps that knock them off for some time and make them return later. It is up to the umpires and the opposing captain to determine if a player who has been retired deserves such a status.
Topping Up
If a batsman is injured in a way that they are unable to run between the wickets, the batsman has the privilege of having a runner as soon as the batsman comes back on the field after being retired. This runner has to be a teammate, and they have to wear all the protective equipment that a batsman does in case they might have to face a delivery some day. Batting with a runner gives a wounded batsman the possibility to proceed with his batting in a way that would not overexert the injury.
Wickets do not reset
This makes a lot of difference between the two categories of retirement, which are the retired and the outright retirement. When a batsman gets injured, a substitute goes in to bat for him, but his score starts with the number of runs and balls he was able to face before pulling out. However, there is one important factor: any wickets that have gone down for their side while they have been off stay down. So, if three wickets were lost while you were off afflicted, your side is still three down, no matter that you were the initial dismissal.
Strategic Retired Hurt Rarely Used
Despite the fact that more information about the injured or ill player is needed, sometimes captains misuse the rule of retired hurt for trickery purposes. For instance, getting a tailender an out on retired hurt with an intention to save them from getting dismissed and thereby risking the remaining and better batsmen. Crucially, this tactic is perceived as being unfair and is used sparingly, if at all, as it is against the spirit of cricket. The majority of occasions where a player is deemed retired hurt are routine injury scenarios.
Conclusion
The ruling of ‘retired hurt’ permits an injured or ill batsman to depart the game early with the aim of returning to bat as soon as he is fit. The batsmen must start on the same runs or balls, and their team’s wickets are not taken back to a starting point. Well, with a bit of luck, you will now be able to comprehend the other rules of cricket, such as retired hurt, and enjoy this wonderful game even more!
