"Retired hurt" in cricket refers to a situation where a batsman voluntarily leaves the field due to injury or illness while still not out. The batsman can return to resume their innings later, provided they are fit and the innings has not concluded.
When Does a Player Retire Hurt?
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Occurs when a batsman sustains an injury while batting, such as being hit by a fast delivery or pulling a muscle.
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Can also happen due to illness or other health issues affecting the player's ability to continue.
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If a player is unable to resume their innings before the end of the innings or the match, they remain "retired hurt" with their score intact.
Key Points About Retiring Hurt:
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Resuming the Innings:
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If the batsman recovers, they can return to bat at the fall of a wicket or after another batsman is dismissed.
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The player resumes from the score they had before retiring.
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Not Considered a Dismissal:
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Unlike being "retired out" (where a player voluntarily leaves the field without injury and is counted as out), "retired hurt" does not count as a dismissal.
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The player's score remains part of the team's total.
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Strategic Use:
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In rare instances, teams may use "retired hurt" strategically, though this can be considered unsportsmanlike.
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For example, if a player is struggling due to physical discomfort or form, they might temporarily leave the field.
Example of a Retired Hurt Scenario:
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During a match, a batsman is struck on the hand by a fast delivery and is in severe pain. They leave the field for medical treatment. If the injury improves, they can return to continue their innings later.
Notable Instances:
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Brian Lara (West Indies) once retired hurt on 4 runs against Sri Lanka in 2001 but later returned to score a double century.
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Ricky Ponting (Australia) retired hurt due to a blow to his head from a bouncer but returned to bat later.
"Retired hurt" is a fair mechanism in cricket that prioritizes a player's health while maintaining the integrity of the game.