Law 1 · Law 24 · Law 25
Players & teams
A side has eleven players, including a captain. Sides can agree to play with more or fewer, but never more than eleven may field at once.
What you need to know
- Each captain names their players to an umpire before the toss. After that, a player can be replaced only if the other captain agrees.
- A substitute can field for someone injured or ill (or for another wholly acceptable reason), but a substitute may not bowl or captain, and may keep wicket only if the umpires allow it.
- A player who has been substituted can come back and bowl or field again, subject to the Law's rules about time off the field.
- A batter can retire at any time the ball is dead. Retiring through illness or injury means they can come back later; retiring for any other reason means they can return only if the other captain agrees — otherwise they are recorded 'Retired – out'.
- If a side is reduced to fewer players during the match, the match carries on as long as it can under the Laws.
Examples
A fielder twists an ankle and leaves the field. A teammate on the bench comes on.
Allowed — they can field anywhere, but they cannot bowl or act as captain.
A batter walks off unhurt to let a teammate bat, and the other captain does not agree to them returning.
They are recorded as 'Retired – out'.
Official source
Official source
MCC Laws of Cricket · 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026)
Law 1 — The players
Clauses 1.1, 1.2
Official source
MCC Laws of Cricket · 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026)
Law 24 — Fielder's absence; substitutes
Clauses 24.1
Official source
MCC Laws of Cricket · 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026)
Law 25 — Batter's innings; runners
Clauses 25.4
The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026). Summary in Inswing's own words — follow the link for the official text.
Related: Basics of cricket · The toss · Player conduct