Flashback: The first batsman to be ‘retired out’ in Test cricket
Cricket’s history is vast and so are its rules. Over the years, we have seen International Cricket Council (ICC) implementing several new laws across the three formats. With cricket being one of the most popular sports worldwide, fans are aware of most of the laws. However, there are some rules which aren’t known much as they don’t come into the picture often. ‘Retired out’ is certainly one of those rules.
Now, ‘Retired hurt’ is a known jargon in the cricket world. As per this rule, a batsman can leave the field if he’s not able to continue and resume his innings later. As far as ‘Retired out’ is concerned, a batsman can leave the field midway but is not allowed to come back. This happens when the umpire or the fielding captain doesn’t permit the batter to go and come back.
#OnThisDay in 2001 Marvan Atapattu & Mahela Jayawardene became only players to retire out in a test match
Harry Killick of Sussex was the first player to retire out in a first-class match (1866 vs MCC)
— S. Kuila (@sukriti_stats) September 7, 2020
Marvan Atapattu is the first batter to get out retired hurt in Test matches
The skipper of the batting side can also make this call. It was back in September 2000 when we witnessed the first batter getting ‘retired out’ in Test matches. He was none other than Sri Lanka’s Marvan Atapattu. It was the second match of the Asian Test Championship and the venue was the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
After bundling out Bangladesh for 90 in the first innings, Sri Lankan batters scored runs for fun. Opener Atapattu was at his fluent best as he made a mockery of the Bangladesh bowlers. While the right-handed batter was watchful, he also scored runs at a quick pace. He went on to score a double century and that too off 256 balls.
Surprisingly, however, Sri Lankan Atapattu was called back right after reaching the landmark. This way a ‘retired out’ was registered for the first time in Test match history. Interestingly, Atapattu didn’t remain alone in the unique list for long. In the same innings, Mahela Jayawardene was also called back right after he reached 150. While the cricket world was left stunned, the dual ‘retired out’ dismissals didn’t have a great impact on the game.
Riding on Atapattu and Jayawardene’s brilliant knocks, Sri Lanka declared at 555/5, earning a hefty lead of 465 runs. The Bangla Tigers did put up a valiant fight but eventually got bundled out for 328. Hence, the Lankan Lions emphatically won the contest by an innings and 117 runs.
