What Is Wide Ball Stumping in Cricket?
Wide ball stumping is a unique form of dismissal in cricket. It occurs when a batsman is stumped on a wide delivery by the wicketkeeper. Although rare, this dismissal combines two critical rules of cricket: wide balls and stumping.
Rules for Wide Ball Stumping
Understanding wide ball stumping requires clarity on two crucial laws:
1. Wide Ball Law (Law 22)
- A delivery is deemed “wide” if it passes beyond the striker’s reach when standing in a normal batting position.
- The umpire signals a wide once the ball passes the striker’s wicket.
- Key Points:
- A wide ball counts as an extra run.
- It does not count as a valid delivery in the over.
- Batters can only be dismissed via stumping, run out, hit wicket, or obstructing the field during a wide.
2. Stumping Law (Law 39)
- A batsman is stumped when the wicketkeeper removes the bails while the batsman is out of the crease and not attempting a run.
- Stumping can occur even if the ball rebounds off the keeper’s body or equipment.
- Stumping is not valid if the ball is a no-ball.
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Wide Ball Stumping Scenarios
Real-Life Example: Last Ball, 1 Run Needed
Imagine a team needing 1 run to win with one wicket remaining. The bowler delivers a wide ball, and the striker steps out of the crease, attempting a shot but missing. The wicketkeeper stumps them.
- Outcome: The batting side wins because the wide ball counts as the winning run. The stumping does not count as the match concludes when the wide is signaled.
- A similar instance occurred in the famous India vs. Sri Lanka match, where a no-ball ended the game before a batsman’s shot could be counted.
Read Also:- Match Suspended Meaning in Cricket
How Umpires Adjudicate Wide Ball Stumping
- The wide is signaled by the umpire at the striker’s end.
- If stumping occurs, the umpire must ensure the delivery is not a no-ball.
- The batting team is credited for the extra run regardless of the stumping.
Wide Ball Stumping: Key Takeaways:
| Aspect | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Can a batsman be stumped off a wide? | Yes, if out of the crease. |
| Does the wide run count? | Yes, it is added to the batting team. |
| Can a stumping result in a win? | No, the wide ends the game first. |
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Latest Updates on Wide Ball Stumping
- Rare Events: Wide ball stumping remains uncommon in professional cricket, typically seen in T20 formats where batsmen are more aggressive.
- Technological Aid: Umpires increasingly rely on technology to adjudicate such situations accurately, especially when deciding if the batsman left the crease before the wide was bowled.
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Wide ball stumping is an intriguing event in cricket that combines the dynamics of wide deliveries and the skill of wicketkeepers. While rare, its occurrence can dramatically influence match outcomes, often favoring the batting side due to the wide run rule. Cricket enthusiasts and players alike should understand this rule to appreciate its impact on the game.
