When is a batter out stumped?
B · Beginner · How does a batter get out? · 11 of 14A batter is out stumped when they leave their ground to play the ball and miss it, and the wicketkeeper breaks the wicket before they get back, with no other fielder touching the ball. It is not out off a no-ball, and it is a run out instead if the batter was trying to run.
How it works
- The batter must be out of their ground: no part of their bat or body grounded behind the crease line.
- They must not be attempting a run. If they are, it is a run out, not a stumping.
- The wicketkeeper must break the wicket, with the ball or with a hand holding it. No other fielder may touch the ball first.
- A ball that rebounds onto the stumps off the keeper's pads or gloves, or that the keeper kicks or throws onto them, counts as broken by the keeper.
- The keeper must stay wholly behind the stumps until the ball touches the bat or body, passes the stumps or the batter tries to run. Coming in front earlier makes it a no-ball, and no stumping is possible off a no-ball.
Tricky cases
Can a batter be stumped off a wide?
Yes. A wide still gives the batting side their one run, even when the batter is stumped.
Can a batter be stumped on a free hit?
No. On a free hit the batter can be out only in the ways allowed off a no-ball, and stumping is not one of them.
Is it out if the ball bounces off the keeper's pads onto the stumps?
Out, if the batter is out of their ground and not running. It counts as broken by the keeper.
Stumped or run out: which is it?
It depends on whether the batter was trying to run. Not running, broken by the keeper alone: stumped. Running, or another fielder involved: run out.
Is it out if the batter left the crease to avoid being hit?
Not stumped. A batter who leaves their ground only to avoid injury cannot be stumped.
Does it count if the batter's foot is on the crease line?
Out. The line itself is not "behind the line". Some part must be grounded behind it.
Why the rule exists
It stops a batter walking down the pitch to every ball without risk. Leaving the crease is allowed; missing the ball when you do is punished.
Where it differs
Nothing. The same in the Laws and in the ICC men's playing conditions.
From the rule book
MCC Laws of Cricket, Laws 39.1 to 39.4, 27.3, 30.1 and 29.2, 4th Edition, in force from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: MCC Laws of Cricket (PDF).