In cricket, "stumps" can refer to a piece of equipment, a method of dismissal, or the end of a day's play
. Stumps as equipment:
- Stumps are the three vertical posts that, along with two bails, form a wicket at each end of the cricket pitch
- They are made of wood, usually ash
- Each stump is 28 inches (71.1 cm) tall
- The maximum diameter is 1 1/2 inches (3.81 cm), and the minimum diameter is 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm)
- Collectively, the three stumps are 9 inches (22.9 cm) wide
- Each stump has a spike at one end to be inserted into the ground and a U-shaped groove at the other end to hold the bails
- The three stumps are called off stump, middle stump and leg stump
- The off stump is on the off side of the wicket, the same side as the batter's bat
- The middle stump is in the center
- The leg stump is on the same side as the batter's legs
Stumps as a method of dismissal:
- A batter can be dismissed as "stumped" when the wicketkeeper dislodges the bails while the batter is out of their ground and not attempting a run
- Being "out of their ground" means that no part of the batter's body, equipment, or bat is touching the ground behind the crease
- A batter is "bowled" when the ball, delivered by the bowler, hits the stumps directly, dislodging the bails
Stumps signifying end of play:
- In Test cricket, "stumps" can indicate the end of a day’s play
- This tradition comes from umpires physically removing the stumps from the ground at the conclusion of play
Originally, cricket was played with only two stumps. A third stump was added to make the game harder and more interesting
