The Bat, Ball, Stumps and Bails

In this lesson you will learn why the Laws set standards for cricket equipment. If one side could use an oversized bat or a lighter ball, the contest between bat and ball would no longer be fair. Standards also protect safety, because a ball of the wrong hardness or a damaged bat can cause injuries. The Laws therefore set limits for the ball, the bat, the pitch and the wickets, and they give the umpires the job of checking that everything conforms before and during the match. Competitions can also specify equipment, such as the type or colour of ball to be used, so it is worth checking the WFA competition regulations for any league requirements.

• Standards keep the contest between bat and ball fair
• Correct equipment reduces the risk of injury
• Umpires check equipment before and during play
• Check the WFA competition regulations for league ball rules

In this lesson you will look at Law 4, which covers the ball. For men's cricket a new ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces, roughly 156 to 163 grams, and measure between 8 and thirteen-sixteenths and 9 inches in circumference. Lighter and smaller balls are specified for women's and junior cricket. Either captain may ask for a new ball at the start of each innings, and the umpires keep possession of the match balls during intervals. If a ball is lost or becomes unfit for play, the umpires replace it with one that has had similar wear. A ball must never be deliberately altered, for example by scratching the surface or using artificial substances, because that is unfair play under Law 41.

• Men's ball: 5.5 to 5.75 ounces in weight
• Smaller, lighter balls for women's and junior cricket
• A lost or unfit ball is replaced with one of similar wear
• Changing the condition of the ball is unfair play

In this lesson you will learn what Law 5 says about the bat. The overall length must be no more than 38 inches, the blade no wider than 4.25 inches, and there are limits on the depth of the blade and the thickness of the edges. Umpires can use a bat gauge to check. The blade must be made of wood, although covering material may be used to protect it, and the handle may be wrapped with a grip. Since 2017 the Laws have also allowed different types of bat for lower levels of the game, such as laminated bats, if the competition permits them. Any bat that is cracked or damaged should be replaced promptly, both for safety and to keep within the Law.

• Overall length: no more than 38 inches
• Blade width: no more than 4.25 inches
• Limits on blade depth and edge thickness
• The blade must be made of wood

In this lesson you will study the pitch and its markings in Laws 6 and 7. The pitch is a rectangle 22 yards long between the two sets of stumps and 10 feet wide. At each end there is a bowling crease, drawn through the centre of the stumps, and a popping crease 4 feet in front of it, which marks the batter's ground. Return creases run at right angles from the popping crease on either side of the stumps and are important for back-foot no-balls. The crease lines are measured to the back edge of the marking, so a batter or bowler on the line is not behind it. Accurate markings are essential, because many decisions on run outs, stumpings and no-balls depend on them.

• The pitch is 22 yards long and 10 feet wide
• Popping crease: 4 feet in front of the bowling crease
• Return creases matter for back-foot no-balls
• Crease measurements are to the back edge of the line

In this lesson you will learn how a wicket is made up under Law 8. Each wicket consists of three stumps with two bails resting on top. The wicket is 9 inches wide and the tops of the stumps are 28 inches above the playing surface. The bails must not project more than half an inch above the stumps. Smaller wickets are specified for junior cricket. The stumps must be firmly set and in line, with the bails sitting in the grooves so they can be dislodged cleanly. On very windy days the umpires may agree to dispense with the bails altogether, and they will then judge whether the wicket has been put down. Checking the stumps before play is a simple job any volunteer can help with.

• Three stumps and two bails make each wicket
• Wicket width 9 inches; stump height 28 inches
• Bails must not project more than half an inch above
• Umpires may dispense with bails in strong wind

In this lesson you will learn what Law 29 means by the wicket being put down. The wicket is down if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground, by the ball, by a batter's bat or person, or by a fielder with the ball or with the hand or arm holding the ball. If the ball hits the stumps but neither bail falls, the wicket has not been put down, which is why you sometimes see a ball clip the stumps without a dismissal. If one bail is already off, removing the remaining bail or striking a stump out of the ground is enough. If both bails are off, a fielder must strike or pull a stump out of the ground while holding the ball.

• A bail completely removed or a stump struck out
• Fielder may use the ball or hand holding the ball
• Ball touching stumps without dislodging a bail is not out
• Both bails off: strike or pull a stump out with the ball

In this final lesson you will consider safety and good practice. Protective equipment such as helmets, pads, gloves and abdominal guards is strongly recommended, and junior players should always follow ECB guidance on helmets and protective kit. Check bats for cracks and loose handles, and replace balls that are split or have lost their shape. Before a match, make sure the stumps are firmly set, the creases are clearly marked and the boundary is safe. Remember that the umpires make the final decision on whether equipment and conditions are fit for play. This module is a guide to the Laws and is not a substitute for manufacturer advice or professional safety guidance.

• Wear appropriate protective equipment
• Juniors should follow ECB guidance on helmets
• Inspect bats, balls and stumps before play
• Umpires decide whether equipment is fit for use