{{Short description|One of the three vertical posts that support the bails and form the wicket}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} [[File:Cricket stumps without bails.jpg|right|thumb|Cricket stumps without bails]]
In cricket, the '''stumps''' are the three vertical posts that support the bails and form the wicket. ''Stumping'' or ''being stumped'' is a method of dismissing a batsman.
The umpire ''calling stumps'' means the play is over for the day.
==Part of the wicket== [[File:Cricket Stumps en.svg|right|thumb|150px|A wicket consists of three stumps that are inserted into the ground, and topped with two bails.]] The '''stumps''' are three vertical posts which support two bails.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/stump|title= Stump |publisher=The Free Dictionary By Farlex|access-date=11 July 2012}}</ref> The stumps and bails are usually made of wood, most commonly ash,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4177874.stm|title=Cricket equipment: The stumps|date=24 August 2005|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005174340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4177874.stm|archive-date=5 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref> 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 1{{Fraction|1|2}} inches (3.81 cm) and 1{{Fraction|3|8}} inches (3.49 cm). They have a spike at one end for inserting into the ground, and the other end has a U-shaped 'through groove' to provide a resting place for the bails.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Stumps.html|title=Stumps|publisher=Sports Definitions.com|access-date=11 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831004420/http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Stumps.html|archive-date=31 August 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In junior cricket the items have smaller dimensions.
Each stump is referred to by a specific name: * '''Off stump'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Off-stump.html|title=Off Stump|publisher=Sports Definitions.com|access-date=11 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315050952/http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Off-stump.html|archive-date=15 March 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is the stump on the off side of the wicket (the same side as the batsman's bat). * '''Middle stump'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Middle-stump.html|title=Middle Stump|publisher=Sports Definitions.com|access-date=11 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520231605/http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Middle-stump.html|archive-date=20 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is the centre stump, the middle of the three stumps. * '''Leg stump'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Leg-stump.html|title=Leg Stump|publisher=Sports Definitions.com|access-date=11 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222045409/http://www.sportsdefinitions.com/cricket/Leg-stump.html|archive-date=22 February 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is the stump on the on side of the wicket (the same side as the batsman's legs).
These names are relative to the batsman, so a right-handed batsman's leg stump becomes the off stump when a left-handed player is batting.
===Modern innovations=== In modern professional play, the stumps are often branded with a sponsor's logo. Although they are too far away from spectators to be seen, such logos are visible on television coverage.
====Stump cam==== 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.
====LED bails (light-up stumps)==== [[File:Matthew Wade attempts to run out Kusal Mendis.jpg|thumb|250px|The LED bails light up as Matthew Wade attempts to run out Kusal Mendis, 2022]] A recent innovation are stumps and bails embedded with red LEDs, which flash when they are completely dislodged. Invented by an Australian engineer and trademarked as "LED Bails", they were designed to aid umpires with both run-out and stumping decisions as well as provide distinctive images to television coverage during day-night matches. LED stumps were first used at the 2014 ICC World T20, and have since become commonplace in major white-ball matches like ODIs or franchise T20 leagues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/cricket/slide-show/slide-show-1-world-t20-led-stumps-and-bails-in-t20-cricket-10-things-you-must-know/20140401.htm#1|title=LED stumps and bails in T20 cricket: 10 things you must know|website=rediff.com|access-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106072159/http://www.rediff.com/cricket/slide-show/slide-show-1-world-t20-led-stumps-and-bails-in-t20-cricket-10-things-you-must-know/20140401.htm#1|archive-date=6 January 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> They have also been used in day/night Test matches.
==Manner of dismissing a batsman== Stumps are very important in the game of cricket as they determine when the wicket is "put down". The instant the bails are dislodged from the top of the stumps, the wicket is put down (there are other ways in which a wicket can be put down if the bails have already been removed).
* If the wicket is put down with the ball after it has gone past the batsman during a fair delivery (regardless of whether the ball made contact with the batsman's body or bat), they are bowled. * If a batsman is out of their ground (that is, no part of their body or bat is behind the popping crease, the line in front of the stumps) whilst attempting to take a run, they are run out. * If a batsman is out of their ground and the wicket is put down by the wicket-keeper before attempting to take a run, they are stumped. * If the wicket is put down by the batsman's body, bat (including debris if it has broken) or any part of their clothing before attempting a run, they are hit wicket.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yahoo Cricket- Ways of dismissal in the game of cricket|url=https://cricket.yahoo.net/news/ten-ways-batsman-dismissed-cricket-120048077|access-date=2021-05-14|website=cricket.yahoo.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The wicket is broken Law |url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/the-laws-of-cricket/the-wicket-is-down |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=Lord's (Marylebone Cricket Club)}}</ref>
==End of the day's play== '''Stumps''' is also used as a term to mean the end of a day's play, e.g. "The umpires called stumps" means that the umpires have declared that play is 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 also remove the stumps.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Umpires call early stumps at The Wanderers after Elgar blow|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/604031|access-date=2020-09-10|website=www.icc-cricket.com|language=en}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Cricket}} *Cricket clothing and equipment *Stump microphone
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Cricket equipment}}
Category:Cricket equipment Category:Cricket laws and regulations Category:Cricket terminology