wicket

Everyday

1. In cricket, a wicket is the set of three upright sticks (stumps) with two small pieces (bails) on top that the bowler tries to hit. tree →
2. In cricket, the wicket is also the strip of grass between the two sets of stumps (the pitch). tree →
3. In cricket, to take a wicket is to get a batter out; «six wickets» means six batters out. tree →
4. A wicket (or wicket gate) is a small door or gate, often in or beside a bigger one. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and sports in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Asia, cricket talk is full of wickets. In maths, cricket scores are written as runs for wickets: «150 for 6» means 150 runs with 6 batters out. Phrases: take a wicket, wicket-keeper, a sticky wicket (a difficult situation).

Examples

• The ball hit the wicket and the batter was out. tree →
• Our bowler took three wickets. tree →
• The wicket-keeper stands behind the stumps. tree →
• The team was 150 for 6, so they had lost 6 wickets. tree →
• Rain made the wicket soft and slow. tree →
• We went through the little wicket gate into the garden. tree →
• Being late on the first day put me on a sticky wicket. tree →
• ‘Who is there?’ asks the porter, putting his head out of the wicket. tree →

Note

Countable. In cricket a team has 10 wickets to lose (11 players, but the last one has no partner), so «all out» after 10 wickets. In the US, «wicket» also means a hoop in the game of croquet.