How big are the stumps, and what are bails for?
Officials' detail · What are the pitch, the ball and the bat? · 2 of 5Each wicket is three wooden stumps, 28 inches (71.12 cm) high, with two wooden bails resting on top; the set is 9 inches (22.86 cm) wide. The wicket is broken when a bail comes completely off or a stump comes out of the ground, which is what bowled, run out, stumped and hit wicket depend on.
How it works
- The bails sit in grooves and must not stand more than half an inch (1.27 cm) above the stumps.
- Devices that stop bails flying far, for safety, are allowed with approval.
- Light-up stumps and bails are allowed in internationals. The wicket is broken only if a bail comes off for good; when it does, the first frame showing the lights is taken as the moment it broke, which matters for run outs and stumpings.
- In strong wind, the umpires can agree to play without bails. They then decide whether the wicket has been broken.
- If one bail is already off, removing the other or knocking a stump out of the ground is enough.
- A wicket broken while the ball is in play is not rebuilt by the umpires until the ball is dead, but a fielder may put a bail back or a stump back in to try for a run out.
Tricky cases
What happens if the wind blows the bails off?
If a bail falls off on its own before the batter could play the ball, the umpire calls dead ball. If wind keeps doing it, the umpires can play without bails.
Can a fielder put the bails back during play?
Yes, to try for a run out.
How tall are the stumps in centimetres?
71.12 cm, with the wicket 22.86 cm wide.
Why the rule exists
A fixed target makes bowling a fair test. The bails make it visible when the target has been hit.
Where it differs
Sizes are the same in the Laws and all ICC men's formats. Junior sizes are set by each country (L8.4).
From the rule book
MCC Laws of Cricket, Laws 8.1 to 8.5, 29.1 to 29.5 and 20.4.2.4, 4th Edition, in force from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: MCC Laws of Cricket (PDF).