Stump (cricket)

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For other uses, see Stump (disambiguation).

In the sport of cricket, the term stump has three different meanings:

1. part of the wicket, 2. a manner of dismissing a batsman, and 3. the end of the day's play ("stumps").

Contents 1 Part of the wicket 2 Manner of dismissing a batsman 3 End of the day's play 4 See also

[edit] Part of the wicket

The stumps are three vertical posts which support two bails. The stumps and bails are usually made of wood, and together form a wicket at each end of the pitch. The overall width of each wicket is 9 inches (22.9 cm).

Each stump is 28 inches (71.1 cm) tall with maximum and minimum diameters of 1¹⁄₂ inches (3.81 cm) and 1³⁄₈ inches (3.49 cm). They have a spike at one end for hammering into the ground, and the other end has a U-shaped 'through groove' to provide a resting place for the bails.

Each stump is referred to by a specific name:

• Off stump is the stump on the off side of the wicket (the same side as the batsman's bat).
• Middle stump is the stump in the middle of the wicket.
• Leg stump is the stump on the leg side of the wicket (the same side as the batsman's legs).

In modern professional play, the stumps are often emblazoned with a sponsor's logo. Although they are too far away from spectators to be seen, such logos are visible on television coverage.

For professional matches, often one or more of the stumps is hollow and contains a small television camera. This is aligned vertically, but can view through a small window on the side of the stump via a mirror. The so-called stump-cam gives a unique view of play for action replays, particularly when a batsman is bowled.

[edit] Manner of dismissing a batsman

In cricket, a batsman can be out stumped if:

• the wicket-keeper puts down the wicket, while the batsman is:
  • out of his ground (because he has moved down the pitch beyond the crease, usually in an attempt to hit the ball);
  • receiving a delivery which is not a no ball; and
  • not attempting a run.

To attempt an appeal the fielders shout How is that?! Stumping is the fifth most common form of dismissal after caught, bowled, leg before wicket and run out. It is governed by Law 39 of the Laws of cricket. It is usually seen when a medium or slow bowler is bowling. It requires co-operation between a bowler and wicket-keeper: the bowler must induce the batsman to move out of his ground, and the wicket-keeper must be quick enough to break the wicket before the batsman makes his ground (i.e. places the bat or part of his body on the ground back behind the popping crease). If the bails are removed before the wicket-keeper has the ball, the batsman can still be stumped if the wicket-keeper removes one of the stumps from the ground, while holding the ball in his hand. The wicket-keeper obtains credit for dismissing a batsman who is stumped. A batsman may not be out stumped off a no ball, but may be stumped off a wide delivery.

[edit] End of the day's play

Stumps is used as a term to mean the end of a day's play, e.g. "The umpires called stumps" means that the umpires declared play over for the day. At the end of a session, i.e. before lunch or tea, the umpires will remove the bails; at the end of the day's play, the umpires will remove the stumps.

[edit] See also

• Cricket terminology