A runner is that player on the cricket field who is called in to run between the wickets for a batter who is undismissed and has suffered an injury which restricts their ability to run, but not their batting. The Marylebone Cricket Club’s Laws of Cricket’s Law 25.5 specifies all the particulars for a runner.
A runner that is called in must be a player who is dismissed. If a runner is needed when the team has not lost any wickets, then a nominated player prior to the start of the innings becomes the runner. However, if a wicket falls, then the dismissed batter must immediately replace the runner.
The decision on whether a runner is indeed needed for a batter is made by the on-field umpire. The runner’s apparel is similar to the gear that the undismissed batter dons. When the runner is called in, then he is posted behind the popping crease, wider from the pitch at an area that is specified by the on-field umpire. No substitute player named prior to the match can be nominated as a runner.
The runner and the batter for whom the runner was called in for has to be extremely cautious of his crease. The batter for whom the runner was called in can be dismissed by the mistakes of the runner in the following ways:
- The fielder or wicket-keeper can stump and run-out striker if the injured batter is within the crease but the runner is not.
- The stumps can be dislodged to run the injured batter out of that batter is outside the crease despite the runner being within the crease.
- The injured batter is subject to dismissal if the runner is given out for obstructing the play by hindering the ball’s movement.
Since it is the runner who will do the running between the wickets, the injured batter will always remain at the wicket-keeper’s end. The runner cannot leave the popping crease until the ball has passed the crease or made contact with the striker’s bat (whom he is running for). Should the runner breach this law, then the ball is deemed dead immediately, all runs scored on that ball are disallowed, and a penalty of five runs is imposed.
Runners are no longer used in International Cricket. In 2011, this law was terminated but continues to be used in lower tier events.
