A batting order can change; a retired batter's reason controls the return.
Published
A team sheet nominates who may play, not a fixed one-to-eleven batting sequence. The batting side may send any eligible player next. Once a batter retires, however, the ball must have been dead, the umpires must be told why, and that reason determines whether the batter is not out and entitled to return or is treated as retired out.
Quick ruling: under MCC Laws 1 and 25 in the 2017 Code, 3rd Edition (2022), there is no binding pre-declared batting order. A batter retiring through illness, injury or another unavoidable cause may resume the same innings, but only at a wicket or another retirement; if they never return, record “Retired – not out.” For another reason, MCC permits a return only with the opposing captain's consent; otherwise record “Retired – out.” The current ICC men's T20I and World Test Championship conditions remove that consent-based return.
Scope
The rule and version used here
This page uses the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 3rd Edition (2022), effective from 1 October 2022, as the general-law baseline. It is current on 26 August 2026. The main provisions are Laws 1, 13, 25 and 40.
MCC has published a 4th Edition, but it does not take effect until 1 October 2026. Its published Law 25.4 retains the same retirement outcomes. A competition may nevertheless replace parts of the MCC baseline through its own playing conditions; the current ICC men's T20I and World Test Championship differences are identified below.
Batting order
The nominated side is fixed; its batting sequence is not
MCC Law 1.2 requires each captain to nominate the players before the toss. MCC Law 25.1 then says only a nominated player may bat or act as a runner. Neither provision requires the captain to submit a numbered batting order, and the Laws do not bind the side to a sequence shown on a broadcast graphic or scorecard preview.
The batting side can therefore change its plan between wickets and between innings: promote a hitter, use a nightwatcher, keep an injured player back or choose different openers in a later innings. The legal question is not “Was this player listed at number six?” but “Is this player entitled to begin or resume an innings now?”
Eligibility
Flexible does not mean anyone may be sent in
The next batter must be eligible. Ordinarily that means a nominated player whose innings has not already been completed. A substitute fielder does not gain a right to bat merely by fielding for someone else. Under MCC Law 1.2, a formally allowed replacement is treated as the player replaced and inherits relevant restrictions; it is not an extra twelfth batter.
Law 25.3 also delays a player who has unserved Penalty time from an earlier fielding absence. That player may bat when the time has been served or, even if some remains, after the side has lost five wickets. Appointed competition conditions can alter the Penalty-time calculation and can create special replacements, including concussion replacements.
When an innings starts
Being named next is not always the legal starting point
Under MCC Law 25.2, the first two batters' innings begin at the call of Play. The same applies to any new batter when play resumes after Time has been called. At any other time, a new batter's innings begins when that batter first steps onto the field of play.
This separates holding a player back from retiring. A player injured before beginning their innings has not retired from an innings and may simply bat later if still eligible. A player whose innings has begun must leave through a route recognised by the Laws: dismissal, retirement, or the conclusion of the side's innings.
Retirement procedure
The ball must be dead and the umpires must know why
MCC Law 25.4.1 allows a batter to retire at any time during their innings when the ball is dead. The batter cannot retire as a way of escaping a run-out or other event while the ball remains in play. Before allowing play to continue, the umpires must be informed of the reason.
The stated reason is decisive because Law 25.4 creates two different legal categories. “Retired hurt” is common commentary language, but the Law also covers illness and any other unavoidable cause. It prescribes no fixed minimum absence: the restriction is on the next lawful opportunity to return, not on spending a set number of overs off the field.
Unavoidable cause
Injury, illness or another unavoidable cause means not out
Under MCC Law 25.4.2, a batter who retires for illness, injury or another unavoidable cause is entitled to resume the same innings. If the batter does not resume for any reason before the innings ends, the scorecard records “Retired – not out.” The batter is not dismissed.
The entitlement to return does not reserve a permanent place at the crease. The side continues with two active batters, and the retired batter waits for one of the specific openings in Law 25.4.4. Medical protocols or local playing conditions may also determine whether a player is fit to continue or must be replaced.
Voluntary retirement
MCC allows a consent-based return; ICC does not
Under the MCC baseline, if the reason is not illness, injury or another unavoidable cause, Law 25.4.3 permits the batter to resume only with the opposing captain's consent. If the innings is not resumed, the record is “Retired – out.” This covers a tactical retirement designed to bring in a different batter.
The current ICC Men's T20I Playing Conditions, effective July 2025, and ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 Playing Conditions, effective June 2025, are stricter. Their clause 25.4.3 immediately records a retirement for any other reason as “Retired – out,” and clause 25.4.4 allows a return only for the illness, injury or unavoidable-cause category. The opposing captain cannot revive a tactical retiree in those competitions.
Return point
A permitted return needs a wicket or another retirement
MCC Law 25.4.4 says a retired batter may resume only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter. Recovery during an over does not let the batter replace either member of a live partnership. At the next permitted opening, the batting side can use the returning batter if the relevant return conditions are satisfied.
The batter continues the original innings with the runs already scored. There is no new personal innings and no reset to zero. If the next opening never occurs before a declaration, successful chase, overs limit or another legal end to the innings, the batter does not return.
End of innings
“Not out” does not guarantee another chance to bat
MCC Law 13.3.2 completes an innings when, after a wicket or retirement, balls remain but no further batter is available to come in. Suppose a side is nine wickets down and its only retired-not-out batter is still unable to resume: there is no eligible partner for the remaining batter, so the innings is complete. The injured player's entry remains retired not out.
A declaration, a prescribed overs or time limit, or the match result may also close the innings first. “Entitled to resume” means the opposing captain cannot veto a qualifying return; it does not extend an innings beyond its lawful conclusion.
Incoming-batter clock
A retirement starts the same readiness clock as a wicket
Under MCC Law 40.1.1, after a wicket or retirement the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball—or the other batter ready to receive the next ball—within three minutes, unless Time has been called. A Timed out dismissal requires an appeal under Law 31; uncertainty about the batting order does not itself suspend the limit.
Competition conditions can shorten it. ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 clause 40 allows two minutes. ICC Men's T20I conditions effective July 2025 allow one minute 30 seconds. Always use the clock in the appointed conditions for the match.
Runners and replacements
Retiring, using a runner and replacing a player are different
MCC Law 25.5 permits a runner only when the umpires are satisfied that an injury affecting the batter's ability to run occurred during the match, or for another wholly acceptable reason. A runner does not replace the batter's innings; both remain governed by detailed runner provisions.
The named ICC men's T20I and World Test Championship conditions prohibit runners. They instead contain separate processes for approved concussion replacements. Once an ICC concussion replacement is approved, the replaced player takes no further part in the match and the replacement joins the nominated side subject to the match referee's conditions. That is a player replacement, not a retired batter returning.
Worked case 1
A listed number eight is promoted after six overs
Situation: a team graphic showed Player A at number eight, but the side sends A in when the first wicket falls.
MCC 2022 ruling: legal if A is an eligible nominated player. Law 1 fixes the participating players and Law 25 controls eligibility and commencement; neither fixes the published batting sequence. The graphic was a tactical forecast, not a legal team order.
Worked case 2
An injured batter recovers while a partnership continues
Situation: Player B retires injured on 40 with the ball dead. Ten overs later B is fit, but the two current batters are still together.
MCC 2022 ruling: B remains retired not out and must wait. Under Laws 25.4.2 and 25.4.4, B has a right to resume but only after a wicket or another retirement. At that opening B continues from 40.
Worked case 3
A tactical retiree asks to return
Situation: Player C leaves voluntarily to bring in a faster scorer, then asks to return at the next wicket.
MCC 2022 ruling: C may return at that wicket only if the opposing captain consents; without consent, C is retired out. ICC Men's T20I conditions effective July 2025: C was retired out under clause 25.4.3 and cannot return. The competition rules, not the tactic's label, decide the result.
Worked case 4
The last available partner cannot continue
Situation: the side is nine wickets down. Player D retired hurt earlier, and the batter at the crease is not out. D remains medically unable to resume.
MCC 2022 ruling: the innings is complete under Law 13.3.2 because no further batter is available. D is recorded retired not out. The side does not gain extra time or a twelfth wicket merely because D was never dismissed.
Decision path
How to decide a batting-order or retirement question
Name the ruleset. Start with MCC 2022 or the appointed competition and season.
Check eligibility. Is the player nominated or an approved replacement, still able to bat, and free of any temporary restriction?
Check whether the innings began. Apply Law 25.2 rather than relying on an announcement or graphic.
For retirement, confirm dead ball and the reported reason. Injury, illness and unavoidable cause belong in a different category from tactical choice.
Apply the competition's return rule. MCC may require opposing-captain consent; the named ICC conditions do not offer that route.
Wait for a lawful opening. A permitted return occurs only at a wicket or another retirement.
Check the clock and innings status. Use the competition's incoming-batter limit and ask whether anyone remains available.
Common mistakes
Claims that collapse different rules
“The published XI fixes positions one to eleven.” It nominates participants; it does not create a binding batting sequence.
“Retired hurt is a dismissal.” Under Law 25.4.2, a qualifying batter who never returns is recorded retired not out.
“A recovered batter can replace either active batter immediately.” No: a wicket or another retirement must create the opening.
“The opposing captain always decides whether a retiree returns.” Under MCC, consent applies only to a non-unavoidable retirement; injury and unavoidable cause carry an entitlement. The named ICC conditions do not allow the tactical return at all.
“An injured substitute fielder can bat.” Ordinary fielding substitution does not change the nominated batting side.
“Every match gives the next batter three minutes.” Three minutes is the MCC baseline; current ICC Test and T20I limits are shorter.
Checked on 26 August 2026 against the currently effective MCC edition, MCC's announced October 2026 replacement and the two named ICC men's international playing conditions. National boards, leagues, tournaments, age grades and local competitions may supplement or replace this baseline; use the conditions appointed for the match.
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