Editing Hit wicket

{{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>

==Notable dismissals==
Due to the rarity of this method of dismissal, many occurrences in international cricket are notable.

===Commentary gaffe===
On 9 August 1991, during a match between [[England cricket team|England]] and the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] at [[the Oval]], [[Ian Botham]] fell over his stumps whilst attempting to hook [[Curtly Ambrose]] and so was dismissed "hit wicket". Later in the day, [[Brian Johnston]] of BBC Radio's ''[[Test Match Special]]'' read out the details of the scorecard as normal. When he came to Botham's dismissal, his fellow presenter [[Jonathan Agnew]] commented that Botham 'just didn't quite get his leg over'. This was a [[double entendre]] meaning that he was not able to avoid hitting his stumps by getting his leg higher than the stumps, and also a reference to sex. Johnston slowly started laughing until he could commentate no more, leaving about a minute of broadcasting being just him in a fit of giggles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/test_match_special/presenter_profiles/2976173.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |work=Test Match Special |title=Presenter profiles {{!}} Jonathan Agnew |date=3 May 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206154131/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/test_match_special/presenter_profiles/2976173.stm |archive-date= Dec 6, 2021 }}</ref>

===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.

===Flying gloves===
Playing for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] at [[the Oval]] in 1953, [[Alan Revill]]'s hand was hit by a lifting delivery from [[Alec Bedser]].  Revill shook his hand in pain, and his glove flew off, hit the stumps, and dislodged a bail.  The umpire considered that Revill was still "playing at the ball", and he was dismissed "hit wicket".<ref name=StrangeDismissals/>

===Falling headgear===
In Test cricket, a number of batsmen have been out "hit wicket" as a result of headgear falling onto the stumps.

In the 2nd Test between Australia and the West Indies in [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]] in 1960–61 (the Test immediately after the famous [[Tied Test]] at [[Brisbane]]), [[Joe Solomon]] was first out in the second innings, following on.  Playing back to a [[topspinner]] bowled by [[Richie Benaud]], his cap fell off and dislodged a bail, so he was out "hit wicket".<ref>{{Cite web|title=AUS vs WI Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Melbourne, December 30, 1960 - January 03, 1961 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/west-indies-tour-of-australia-1960-61-61907/australia-vs-west-indies-2nd-test-62889/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref> The Australian crowd thought the dismissal was unsporting, and booed their own side.

In Warwickshire's County Championship match against Hampshire at Edgbaston in 1962, [[M. J. K. Smith]] was dismissed when a gust of wind blew his cap on to his wicket.<ref name="StrangeDismissals">{{Cite web|date=2006-01-02|title=The XI freakish dismissals|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/231414.html|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.edgbaston.com/Scorecards/25/25383.html| title= Warwickshire v Hampshire in 1962|publisher=Warwickshire Cricket Archive | access-date=31 March 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331173233/http://stats.edgbaston.com/Scorecards/25/25383.html |archive-date= Mar 31, 2018 }}</ref>

Two [[India national cricket team|Indian]] cricketers have been dismissed in a similar fashion – [[Ashok Mankad]] by England's [[Chris Old]] during the 3rd Test at [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] in July 1974,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ENG vs IND Cricket Scorecard, 3rd Test at Birmingham, July 04 - 08, 1974 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-england-1974-62274/england-vs-india-3rd-test-63127/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref> and [[Dilip Vengsarkar]] by Australia's [[Jeff Thomson]] during the 1st Test at Brisbane in December 1977.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AUS vs IND Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Brisbane, December 02 - 06, 1977 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-australia-1977-78-62300/australia-vs-india-1st-test-63195/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en}}</ref>

In the 3rd [[One Day International]] between [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] and Australia in [[Dunedin]] in February 2000, New Zealand's [[Adam Parore]] had his helmet knocked off by a short-pitched delivery from [[Brett Lee]].  The helmet fell into the stumps, and Parore was also out "hit wicket", causing some disturbance in the crowd.<ref name=StrangeDismissals/><ref>{{Cite web|title=NZ vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 3rd ODI at Dunedin, February 23, 2000 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-new-zealand-1999-00-61404/new-zealand-vs-australia-3rd-odi-64653/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-06-14|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240505012146/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-new-zealand-1999-00-61404/new-zealand-vs-australia-3rd-odi-64653/full-scorecard |archive-date= 5 May 2024 }}</ref>

In the 3rd Test between England and West Indies at [[Old Trafford Cricket Ground|Old Trafford]] on 9 June 2007, [[Kevin Pietersen]] was out "hit wicket" when his helmet fell onto the stumps. The bowler was [[Dwayne Bravo]], who bowled a good bouncer that dislodged the helmet. Replays suggested that the force of the ball broke the chinstrap, freeing the lid to strike the stumps.

===Other strange hit wicket dismissals===
[[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]]'s [[Inzamam-ul-Haq]] was also out "hit wicket" in the 3rd Test against England at Headingley on 6 August 2006, as he attempted to sweep England spinner [[Monty Panesar]] and in doing so lost his balance before falling backwards onto his stumps. He attempted to jump over the stumps, but completely fell on top of them.

One of the more bizarre hit wicket dismissals was of [[Sri Lanka national cricket team]] former captain [[Kumar Sangakkara]] in the finals of the triangular ODI Compaq Cup against India at Colombo on 14 September 2009, as he attempted a shot and in the follow through his bat slipped out of his hands, flew backwards in the air and landed on the stumps.

On 1 December 2017, West Indian player [[Sunil Ambris]] became the first player to be dismissed hit wicket on debut, also getting out for a [[Duck (cricket)|golden duck]].  He proceeded to get out the same way in the very next game, becoming the only player to be out this way twice in consecutive games.

==References==
{{reflist}}
*Gerald Brodribb, ''Next Man In'', Chapter 35, Souvenir Press (1995)

{{Methods of dismissal in cricket}}

[[Category:Cricket laws and regulations]]
[[Category:Cricket terminology]]