Editing Hit wicket (section)

===Disintegrating bat===
In the first innings of the 3rd Test in the [[Australian cricket team in England in 1921|1921 Ashes series]], at [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]], [[Andy Ducat]], playing in his only Test for England, fended at a fast ball bowled by [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]'s [[Ted McDonald]]. Ducat's bat broke, and a splinter flew back and dislodged a bail, the ball being caught behind by a slip fielder. Ducat was given out "caught", although it seems likely that he could also have been given out "hit wicket".<ref>{{Cite web|title=AUS vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 3rd Test at Adelaide, January 14 - 20, 1921 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-australia-1920-21-61711/australia-vs-england-3rd-test-62523/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>

Later in 1921, in the 2nd Test between Australia and [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] at [[Old Wanderers]] in [[Johannesburg]], McDonald dismissed [[Billy Zulch]] in a similar fashion, breaking the batsman's bat so that fragments flew back to dislodge a bail, and Zulch was given out "hit wicket".<ref name=StrangeDismissals/>

After these incidents, the MCC clarified that the whole bat must break the wicket for the batsman to be given out "hit wicket".  However, effective 1 October 2010, this law has been changed to allow a batsman to be dismissed "hit wicket" if a splinter, or part of his bat, breaks the wicket.