Editing Hit wicket (section)

{{short description|Method of dismissal in cricket}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
'''Hit wicket''' is a method of [[Dismissal (cricket)|dismissal]] in the sport of [[cricket]]. This method of dismissal is governed by Law 35 of the [[Laws of Cricket]]. The striker is out "hit wicket" if, after the bowler has entered his delivery stride and while the ball is in play, his wicket is [[Wicket#Dismissing a batsman|put down]] by his bat or his person.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-35-hit-wicket/|title=Law 35 – Hit wicket|website=lords.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-14}}</ref> The striker may do this whilst preparing to receive or receiving a delivery or in setting off for his first run after playing the delivery. In simple language, if the striking batsman knocks the bails off the stumps or uproots the stumps, while attempting to hit the ball or take off for a run, he is out hit wicket.

This method is the sixth most common method of dismissal after [[Caught (cricket)|caught]], [[bowled]], [[leg before wicket]], [[run out]] and [[stumped]]. It is significantly rarer than any of these, which constitute the five conventional methods, but still much more common than the other four ([[timed out]], [[obstructing the field]], [[retired out]] and [[hit the ball twice]]), which are extremely rare.

Although a bowler is given credit for the wicket, it is not a method of dismissal that a bowler actively seeks. A batsman may not be given out "hit wicket" if the ball is not actually delivered by the [[Bowler (cricket)|bowler]] or if the delivery is a [[no-ball]].

{{As of|2024|11|}}, batsmen have been dismissed hit wicket a total of 164 times in [[Test cricket]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Batsmen dismissed by hit wicket in Test cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref> 77 times in [[One Day International]]s<ref>{{cite web|title=Batsmen dismissed by hit wicket in One Day International cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref> and 35 in [[Twenty20 International]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Batsmen dismissed by hit wicket in Twenty20 International cricket |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=3;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |access-date=17 March 2024 |publisher=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In the women's game, a player has been dismissed 12 times in this manner in [[women's Test cricket|Tests]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Players dismissed by hit wicket in women's Test cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=8;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814151705/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=8;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |archive-date= Aug 14, 2023 }}</ref> 8 in [[Women's One Day International cricket|women's ODIs]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Players dismissed by hit wicket in women's One Day International cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=9;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230814151720/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=9;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |archive-date= Aug 14, 2023 }}</ref> and 18 in [[women's Twenty20 International]] matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=Players dismissed by hit wicket in women's Twenty20 International cricket|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=15 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240504212941/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=10;dismissal=6;filter=advanced;orderby=start;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings |archive-date= May 4, 2024 }}</ref>