Hit the Stumps is a free cricket fielding game where the batters are running and you have one throw to hit the stumps. Aim, time your throw and run the batter out before they get home. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once loaded.
Inspired by: Cricket run outs and mobile cricket fielding games.
How to play Hit the Stumps
- Each round a fielder picks up the ball somewhere on the field. The two batters start running between the stumps.
- Move the mouse or drag your finger to place the aiming ring. The ring shakes a little, so time your throw.
- Release or click to throw. The ball flies in a straight line and rolls on after it lands.
- If the ball hits the stumps before the batter running to that end reaches the crease, it is a run out.
- Run outs score points and build a streak. Every miss costs a life, and you have 3 lives.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys move the aiming ring. Space or Enter throws. P or Esc pauses.
- Mouse: Move the mouse to aim and click to throw.
- Touch screen: Drag your finger to aim and lift it to throw. A quick tap throws straight to that spot.
Tips to score higher
- Throw at the stumps the batter is running towards, and pick the closer one when you can.
- Throw early. The ball takes time to fly, and the batter keeps moving while it is in the air.
- Aim a little beyond the stumps. A ball that stops short cannot hit them.
- Watch the ring shake and release when it crosses the stumps, not before.
- A hit with plenty of time left earns extra points, so a fast throw pays twice.
The story behind Hit the Stumps
The run out is one of the most exciting moments in cricket, a direct hit from the boundary that turns a match in a second. Cricket has been played in England since the 1500s, and it became a passion across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and beyond, where children play in lanes, parks and school grounds with a tennis ball and a few bricks as stumps. Great fielders are remembered for sharp throws that hit the stumps from far away. Hit the Stumps lets you try those moments yourself, over and over, without waiting for the school bell to end.
Questions players ask
Is Hit the Stumps free to play?
Yes. It is free with no sign up, no download and no in-game purchases.
Do I need to know cricket?
No. A batter runs between two sets of stumps, and your job is to hit the stumps with the ball before the batter gets there.
Why does the aiming ring shake?
It makes the game a test of timing. It shakes more as the rounds go on, so you need to release at the right moment.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Drag to aim and lift your finger to throw.
How is the score worked out?
Each run out gives 100 points, plus extra for every run out in a row and for hitting with time to spare.