Batters in cricket score runs by striking the ball bowled at various speeds. Balls may swing or spin at a pace ranging from 80 km/hr to 150 km/hr. The ball bounces on a pitch made of grass, soil, sand, and clay with cracks capable of deviating the ball’s direction.
It is a challenge for the batters to time their movements and shots in accordance with the direction of the cork ball. Any mistiming can result in the ball injuring the batters if not avoided in a timely manner. Despite the availability of leg pads, pelvic guards, helmets, elbow guards, thigh pads, and other protective equipment, the cricket ball is known to cause enough damage to a batter.
Apart from physical injuries, batters may also suffer from illness in the middle of their innings. Should such an unfortunate incident happen, the batters can take the permission of the umpire and retire temporarily mid-innings. If the umpire allows, then the batters are marked ‘retired hurt – not out’. The next batter replaces the retired hurt batter. A batter who is marked retired hurt and not out is allowed to come later in the innings to resume their batting from the same score at which they left.
In a situation where the batters fails to take the umpire’s permission and retires, then he or she is marked ‘retired hurt – out.’ In this case, the batter cannot come back to resume their innings. The only possible manner in which this player can come back to bat and resume their innings is if they have the permission of the opposition side’s captain.
A retired hurt batter who took the prior consent of the umpire but could not resume his or her innings means that they will remain undismissed. This means if the rest of the batters are out, then the final wicket tally of the team will be nine. For a retired hurt out batter, the designation remains the same and is considered dismissed.
