Laws of Cricket 1980 Code - Law 2
1. Substitutes
Substitutes shall be allowed to field for any player who, during the match, is incapacitated by illness or injury. The consent of the opposing captain must be obtained for the usde of a substitute if any player is prevented from fielding for any other reason.
2. Objection to Substitutes
The opposing captain shall have no right of objection to any player acting as substitute in the field, nor as to where he shall field; although he may object to the sbstitute acting as wicket-Keeper.
3. Substitute Not to Bat or Bowl
A Substitute shall not be allowed to bat or bowl.
4. A Player for whom a Substitute has Acted
A player may bat, bowl or field even though a substitute has acted for him.
5. Runner
A runner shall be allowed for a batsman who, during the match is incapacitated by illness or injury. The player acting as runner shall be a member of the batting side and shall, if possible, have already batted in that innings.
6. Runner's Equipment
The player acting as runner for an injured batsman shall wear the same batting gloves and pads if the injured batsman is so equipped.
7. Transgression of the Laws by an Injured Batsman or Runner or Runner
An injured Batsman may be out should his Runner break any one of Laws 33 (Handled the Ball), 37 (Obstructing the Field) or 38 (Run Out). As Striker he remains himself subject to the Laws. Furthermore, should he be out of his ground for any purpose and the wicket at the wicket-keeper's end be put down he shall be out under Law 38 (Run Out) or Law 39 (Stumped), irrespective of the position of the other batsman or the runner, and no runs shall be scored. When not the Striker, the injured batsman is out of the game and shall stand where he does not interfere with the play. Should he bring himself into the game in any way, then he shall suffer the penalties that any transgression of the Laws demands.
8. Fieldsman Leaving the Field
No Fieldsman shall leave the field or return during a session of play without the consent of the umpire at the bowler's end. The Umpire's consent is also necessary if a substitute is required for a fieldsman, when his side returns to the field after an interval. If a member of the fielding side leaves the field or fails to return after an interval and is absent from the field for longer than fifteen minutes, he shall not be permitted to bowl after his return until he has been on the field for at least that length of playing time for which he was absent. This restriction shall not apply at the start of a new day's play.
9. Batsman Leaving the Field or Retiring
A Batsman may leave the field or retire at any time owing to illness, injury or other unavoidable cause, having previously notified the umpire at the bowler's end. He may resume his innings at the fall of a wicket, which for the purposes of this Law shall include the retirement of another Batsman.
If he leaves the field or retires for any other reason he may resume his innings only with the consent of the opposing Captain. When a Batsman has left the field or retired and is unable to return owing to illness, injury or other unavoidable cause his innings is to be recorded as "retired, not out". Otherwise it is to be recorded as "retired, out".
10. Commencement of a Batsman's Innings
A Batsman shall be considered to have commenced his innings once he has stepped on to the field of play.
Note
1. Substitutes and Runners
For the purpose of these Laws, allowable illnesses or injuries are those which occur at any time after the nomination by the captains of their teams.
Reproduction of the Laws of Cricket is by kind permission of Marylebone Cricket Club