Wicket Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈwɪkɪt/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

In cricket, a wicket refers to the three stumps (vertical poles) and two bails (small pieces of wood) placed at each end of the pitch, which a bowler aims to hit to dismiss a batsman.

Examples

The fast bowler knocked over the wicket, sending the batsman back to the pavilion.
The cricket team’s main goal was to take all ten wickets to win the match.

Synonyms

Stumps
Stump

Antonyms

Bat
Ball

Additional Information

A wicket can also refer to the act of a batsman being dismissed, as in “he lost his wicket”. In cricket, a team’s score is often stated as the number of runs scored and the number of wickets lost, such as “150 for 5”. This indicates that the team has scored 150 runs while losing five wickets.

Wickets are an essential part of the game, as they determine the outcome of a match. A team must take all ten wickets to win the game, and the batsmen must protect their wickets to stay in the game.

Etymology

The word “wicket” originated in the 14th century, derived from the Old English words “wic” meaning ” dwelling” and “gate” meaning “gate”. Initially, it referred to a small gate or door, and later evolved to describe the structure in cricket.

Usage Notes

The term “wicket” is primarily used in cricket and is an essential part of the game’s terminology. It is often used in combination with other cricket-related words, such as “over”, “bowler”, and “batsman”.

Cultural References

The wicket has appeared in various forms of media, including films, literature, and music. In literature, the wicket is often used as a metaphor for life’s challenges and obstacles.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“On a sticky wicket” – meaning to be in a difficult or precarious situation.

Related Words or Phrases

Stumps
Bails
Pitch

Collocations

“take a wicket”
“lose a wicket”
“defend a wicket”

Frequency of Use

The word “wicket” is moderately frequent in language, primarily used in cricket-related contexts.