When can a substitute, a runner or a retired batter be used or return?

Q: When can a substitute, a runner or a retired batter be used or return?

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026): Substitute fielder (Law 24.1): the umpires allow one if satisfied a fielder has been injured or become ill during the match, or for any other wholly acceptable reason; in all other circumstances not. A substitute cannot bowl or act as captain, and may keep wicket only with the umpires' consent. Runner (Law 25.5): the umpires allow one if the batter has sustained an injury during the match that affects their ability to run, or for any other wholly acceptable reason. The runner must be a member of the batting side and, if possible, have already completed their innings. Retiring (Law 25.4): a batter may retire when the ball is dead, and the umpires must be told the reason first. A batter who retires through illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause may resume their innings. If a batter retires for any other reason, they may resume only with your consent, as the opposing captain, otherwise they are recorded as "Retired - out". A retired batter can resume only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter. Replacing a nominated player (Law 1.2.2): no player can be replaced after nomination without the opposing captain's consent, and you must then tell the umpires and scorers. Absent fielders (Law 24.2): a fielder who leaves the field cannot bowl until they have been back on the field for the Penalty time (up to 90 minutes), unless they left because of an external blow during the match or another wholly acceptable reason in the umpires' opinion (not illness or internal injury).

Question

Accepted Answer

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026):

Substitute fielder (Law 24.1): the umpires allow one if satisfied a fielder has been injured or become ill during the match, or for any other wholly acceptable reason; in all other circumstances not. A substitute cannot bowl or act as captain, and may keep wicket only with the umpires' consent.

Runner (Law 25.5): the umpires allow one if the batter has sustained an injury during the match that affects their ability to run, or for any other wholly acceptable reason. The runner must be a member of the batting side and, if possible, have already completed their innings.

Retiring (Law 25.4): a batter may retire when the ball is dead, and the umpires must be told the reason first. A batter who retires through illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause may resume their innings. If a batter retires for any other reason, they may resume only with your consent, as the opposing captain, otherwise they are recorded as "Retired - out". A retired batter can resume only at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of another batter.

Replacing a nominated player (Law 1.2.2): no player can be replaced after nomination without the opposing captain's consent, and you must then tell the umpires and scorers.

Absent fielders (Law 24.2): a fielder who leaves the field cannot bowl until they have been back on the field for the Penalty time (up to 90 minutes), unless they left because of an external blow during the match or another wholly acceptable reason in the umpires' opinion (not illness or internal injury).