A batter can leave an innings without being dismissed. If the reason is illness, injury or another unavoidable cause, they are recorded as retired not out and may return; for any other reason they are recorded as retired out, and may return only if the opposing captain agrees.
What the Law says
The rules sit in Law 25.4 of the MCC Laws of Cricket (2017 Code). A batter may retire at any time during an innings, but only when the ball is dead, and the umpires must be told the reason before play continues (25.4.1).
Retired not out
If a batter retires because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause, they are entitled to resume their innings (25.4.2). If they do not come back, they are recorded as “Retired – not out”. Broadcasters often say “retired hurt”, but the scorebook label is retired not out.
This is not a dismissal. The batter’s innings is counted as not out in the statistics. It also means a team can be bowled out with only nine wickets having fallen, because the injured batter is unable to return.
Retired out
If a batter retires for any reason other than those above, such as a tactical decision to bring in a faster scorer, the innings can be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain (25.4.3). If it is not resumed, the batter is recorded as “Retired – out”.
Retired out is counted as a dismissal in the batter’s record, but it is not credited to a bowler. Wikipedia’s summary of the Law gives the same description.
When can a batter return?
A batter who comes back must do so at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter (25.4.4). They cannot walk back in at any moment.
Examples from the game
The tactical form has appeared in modern T20 cricket. According to Wikipedia's article on the subject, R Ashwin retired out for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 IPL, and Niko Davin of Namibia retired out against England at the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, the first such dismissal at that tournament. The same article records the opposite case from 1982-83: India captain Kapil Dev allowed Gordon Greenidge's overnight retirement for family reasons to be recorded as retired not out.
Why the label matters
For a batter’s average, retired not out keeps their innings as not out, which raises the average, while retired out counts as a completed innings. For a team, a retired-out batter cannot be brought back without the opposing captain’s say-so, so a captain who makes the move is giving up a batter for the rest of the innings in practice.
Version note: this guide quotes the Laws of Cricket 2017 Code. MCC announced a fourth edition of the Code taking effect from 1 October 2026; check the clauses against the current text for any official use.
Frequently asked questions
Is retired hurt the same as retired out?
No. Retired hurt is the common name for retired not out, which is not a dismissal. Retired out counts as a dismissal.
Can a retired batter bat again?
Yes, but only at the fall of a wicket or another batter's retirement. After a tactical retirement, the opposing captain must also consent.
Does retired out go against the bowler's figures?
No. It is counted as a dismissal for the batter's record but no bowler is credited with it.