Bail (cricket)
A bail is one of the smaller sticks placed on top of a wicket in the game of cricket. The bail is used to determine whether the ball actually hit the stumps the ruling being that the bail must fall from the stumps for a hit to have taken place. This means that a ball can actually rest against the stumps without the batsman being out. An excert from the The official laws of cricket - Each bail shall conform to the following specifications:
Overall length:- 4 5/16 in/10.95cm
Length of barrel:- 2 1/8 in/5.40cm
Longer spigot:- 1 3/8 in/3.49cm
Shorter spigot:- 13/16 in/2.06cm
See also: Cricket terminology