GB2590791A - Improved wicket components for cricket - Google Patents

Abstract

A wicket component for cricket, the wicket component comprising a generally cylindrical stump (figure 3b) or a bail (figure 1b), a central operative portion having a tubular outer housing 114 and an inner housing 116 within and spaced from the outer housing. The space between the inner and outer housings includes an electrical circuit 120 for indicating movement, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact. Cushioning 122 at least partially fills the space between the inner and outer housings, and about the electrical circuit, to protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component. In a preferred form, the electrical circuit is for indicating visual movement, but may also be for audibly indicating movement, and any visual movement indication is visible through the cushioning and the outer housing so as to be visible outside the wicket component.

Description

IMPROVED WICKET COMPONENTS FOR CRICKET

[0001] This application claims convention priority from Australian provisional patent application 2019904336 filed on 18 November 2019, the full content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the sport of cricket, and more particularly to the stumps and bails of cricket that together are referred to as the wicket.

Background of the Invention

[0003] Australian patent 2010306420 describes an earlier wicket system for indicating the movement of a cricket bail relative to a cricket stump. Noting that a cricket wicket comprises three stumps and two bails, with the top of each stump having a diametric groove for receiving (and loosely seating) a respective spigot of one of the bails, each bail thus having two spigots, this earlier wicket system described the use of sensors in each spigot of a bail and each groove of a stump to determine when a bail had lifted from a stump.

[0004] The rules of cricket need both spigots of a bail to lift from respective stumps, and that bail to then not return to its seated position (ie, it must fall to the ground) on the stumps, for a batter to be given out as per various modes of dismissal. Thus, in this earlier system, the stumps and bails were designed with electronics that resulted in lights in the bails and/or stumps lighting up when both spigots of a bail lifted away from their respective grooves.

[0005] A simple impact of a cricket ball with either a stump or a bail, without one or both bail spigots permanently separating from a stump groove, was not monitored or detected by this earlier system. Because it was unlikely to occur, and because such an event would not have resulted in a batter's dismissal, such an event was not of great interest to cricket organisers, particularly at the senior international and domestic level at which this earlier system was adopted.

[0006] Indeed, this earlier system was therefore associated with reasonably complex, sensitive and fragile electronics (often requiring pads replacement after impacts). It was, and still is, used at the highest levels of international and domestic cricket competitions where close audio and video monitoring/inspection of stumps/bails is also adopted, with careful umpiring and close commercial commentary also available and used. The complete system is thus quite expensive to adopt and maintain, but this expense, used at the highest level, has been acceptable for the economics of those various senior competitions.

[0007] The cost and complexity of this earlier system has, however, been a barrier to its use in lower levels of cricket competitions, such as for club, amateur and school cricket. In these competitions, there is not the same visual and technical analysis brought to bear in determining dismissals, so the totality of the above earlier system has also been unnecessary. There is thus a need for the development of a simpler system, capable of surviving the rigours of regular use without needing regular replacement of parts. The present invention has been developed with this in mind.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention provides a wicket component for cricket, the wicket component having a generally cylindrical form and being either a stump or a bail, the wicket component including a central operative portion having a tubular outer housing and an inner housing within and spaced from the outer housing, wherein: the space between the inner and outer housings includes an electrical circuit for indicating movement, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact; and cushioning at least partially fills the space between the inner and outer housings, and about the electrical circuit, to protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component.

[0009] In embodiments of the present invention, the electrical circuit might provide a visual indication of movement (such as lights that can be seen by players, umpires and/or spectators), or might provide an audible indication of movement (that can be heard by players, umpires and/or spectators), or might provide an electrical signal to another device or person (such as an umpire, a scorer, or a scoreboard) as an indication of movement. Of course, it will also be appreciated that any combination of these indications might also be adopted, such as by having an electrical circuit that can provide both a visual and an audible indication of movement of a wicket component.

[0010] In the case of the electrical circuit being able to provide a visual indication of movement, in this form the visual movement indication will ideally be visible through the cushioning and the outer housing so as to be visible outside the wicket component.

[0011] In a preferred form, the present invention thus provides a wicket component for cricket, the wicket component having a generally cylindrical form and being either a stump or a bail, the wicket component including a central operative portion having a tubular outer housing and an inner housing within and spaced from the outer housing, wherein: the space between the inner and outer housings includes an electrical circuit for visually indicating movement, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact; and cushioning at least partially fills the space between the inner and outer housings, and about the electrical circuit, to protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component; whereby the visual movement indication is visible through the cushioning and the outer housing so as to be visible outside the wicket component.

[0012] In a preferred form, visual movement indication is visible through the cushioning and the outer housing by virtue of them being formed from a transparent material, and/or having an otherwise transparent portion (such as an opening), adjacent at least the portion of the electrical circuit that provides the visual movement indication.

[0013] With cricket at club-level, the determination of a batter's dismissal can be much simpler, and generally includes much less analysis, than needed in higher-level or international cricket. If there has been an impact between cricket ball and bail or stump, which the system of the present invention will detect, and a bail has fallen to the ground, then the batter will be dismissed, and if an umpire needs to assess the timing of an impact relative to another event (such as when determining a run-out or stumping), the indication of the impact provided by the present invention will be enough for a club-level umpire to make that assessment.

[0014] In this respect, and in the context of a complete cricket wicket being three stumps and two bails, it should be appreciated that the electrical circuit for indicating movement will ideally be capable of detecting and reacting to movement that occurs of either a stump or a bail, as a result of an impact to either the stump or the bail, including movement of any stump due to impact to any bail, movement of any bail due to impact to any stump, movement of any stump due to impact to any stump, and movement of any bail due to impact to any bail. Therefore, the electrical circuit provided in a stump may be such as to be able to detect movement of a bail away from the stump, even in situations where there is no movement of the stump. This might be referred to as the detection by a stump of "relative" movement of a bail, and vice-versa.

[0015] A wicket component according to the present invention may thus be configured with relatively simple electrical componentry (ideally electronic componentry) that only needs to detect movement arising from an impact with that component, and then provide a suitable indication of that movement, such as visually by way of flashing lights, audibly by way of speakers, electronically by sending an electronic signal to an external indication device, or may utilise more sophisticated componentry able to detect the type of relative movement mentioned above.

[0016] For example, detection may be achieved by the use of an accelerometer. In this respect, the reference to detecting movement is generally a reference to detecting the acceleration that occurs during an impact, typically from a cricket ball, but may also be from any number of other objects. The impact causes acceleration of the wicket component, which, if the impact was of sufficient magnitude, in turn causes the wicket component to move, which in most cases results in physical separation of the stump and bail. The wicket components are set up initially at rest, so any acceleration from this condition must result in movement.

[0017] Further, a minimum acceleration detection threshold may be set to further improve the detection of bail movement sufficient to indicate bail dislodgement, and hence player dismissal. In this way, very light impacts not likely to result in bail dislodgement can be ignored and not indicated.

[0018] With further reference to embodiments that provide a visual indication of the movement, this may be provided by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), lasers, incandescent globes, xenon-arc lamps, electroluminescent (EL) displays, or any other electrical or electronic light emitting technology.

[0019] The wicket components of the present invention thus do not necessarily need to sense separation of a bail's spigot from a stump's groove, and are thus able to house necessary electrical componentry in the body of the bails and stumps, away from the smaller spigots and the custom-shaped stump grooves. Indeed, doing away with the need for sensors in conjunction with the spigots and stump grooves avoids additional cost and complexity if desired.

[0020] Of course, and as foreshadowed above, it will be appreciated that the wicket components of the present may include additional sensors and electrical componentry, in order to make the functioning of the wicket components more sophisticated if required, such as if the benefits of the configuration of the present invention are desired to be used at the highest levels of international and domestic cricket competitions where close audio and video monitoring/inspection of stumps/bails is adopted, with careful umpiring and close commercial commentary also available and used. Thus, sensing systems that include the addition of more advanced bail spigot position detection means, for example, are not to be excluded from use with the wicket components of the present invention.

[0021] The adoption of a central operative portion in the present invention, with the dual, inner and outer housing arrangement mentioned above, permits the use of cushioning therebetween to effectively contain the electrical circuit and protect it from impact and the outside environment (such as water ingress). This configuration renders the equipment quite impact resistant and tough, improving the mechanical integrity of the equipment, and allowing for the wicket components of the present invention to withstand large impacts quite regularly, while maintaining their electrical functionality, and thus surviving many cricket matches (at any level) without needing replacement or maintenance.

[0022] In relation to the reference to the operative portion being a "central" operative portion, it will be appreciated that this is a reference to the operative portion (essentially containing the preferred electronics) generally being away from, for a stump, the groove at one end and the spike at the other end and, for a bail, generally being within the central body of the bail and not within the bail's spigots. With this in mind though, it will be appreciated that it still may be desirable for a power source, such as a replaceable or rechargeable battery, to be positioned away from the central operative portion, particularly of a stump, and thus positioned for example in the spike portion of the stump.

[0023] In relation to the cushioning within the space between the inner and outer housings, in a preferred form the cushioning will be a transparent and resilient polymer that is capable of flowing during manufacture so as to completely fill the space between the housings and about the electronics. Ideally this will be a two-part, cold-curable polymer, such as a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, epoxy resins, and silicone resins.

[0024] It is may also be desirable for the cushioning material to have suitably adhesive characteristics so as to assist in holding the inner and outer housings, and the electronics, in place during use. A cushioning material with poor adhesion may lead to delamination after impact or after thermal cycling of the stump or bail.

[0025] It has been found that ideal two-part, cold-curable polyurethane resins are two-part, thermosetting, optically clear polyurethanes, with a hardness of between Shore A50 and Shore A90. Exemplary resins of this type are those known by the trade names "Electrolube UR5640" and "Multicomp MC002570".

[0026] The cushioning is thus able to at least partially fill the space between the inner and outer housings, and about the electrical circuit, and as mentioned above will protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component. In this respect, it will be appreciated by a skilled addressee that a suitable degree of resilience is required of the cushioning, noting that it will provide some impact energy absorption while also providing sufficient support for the electronics.

[0027] If the cushioning is too rigid, it may rip electronic components from circuit boards when impacted and when the stump or bail is subjected to bending forces. Conversely, if the cushioning is too soft, suitable mechanical strength may not be provided to hold the inner and outer housings together under high loads.

[0028] In relation to the electrical circuit, in a preferred form it will be an electronic circuit in the form of a flexible or flex-rigid printed circuit board (PCB), either partially or fully wrapped around, or incorporated with, the inner housing. Having said that, a rigid PCB could also be used, particularly due to the beneficial cushioning that it is provided by the structure and configuration of the present invention.

[0029] In relation to the PCB being either fully or partially wrapped around, or incorporated with, the inner housing, like the outer housing, the inner housing may also be tubular (and may thus be hollow), although it need not be. In most forms, the outer housing will have a circular cross-section to match the desired generally cylindrical shape of a stump and a bail, but the inner housing may have a circular, square, rectangular or other cross-section and may, for example, have a customised cross-section to receive or fit with internal parts of the electrical componentry.

[00501 Ideally, a suitable PCB will be manufactured separately and simply wrapped around or assembled into the inner housing, being secured thereto in any suitable manner, including being secured directly thereto or being secured thereto but spaced therefrom so as to leave a gap between the inner housing and the PCB. Alternatively, the PCB could be formed integrally with the outer surface of the inner housing, including integrally with only a portion of the inner housing, such as within a pocket formed in the outer surface of the inner housing, or the inner surface of the outer housing, or could itself form the inner housing either entirely or partly.

[0031] It will also be appreciated that more than one PCB could be provided, with one PCB being provided, for example, either radially or longitudinally adjacent another PCB, both still being in the space between the inner and outer housings, and both still thus being protected by the cushioning provided within that space. The electrical circuit could also be in the form of electrical components electrically connected by other means, such as LEDs soldered onto wires.

[0032] The PCB (or the PCBs where this is more than one) will preferably include all of the necessary electronics for the proper functioning of the wicket component of the present invention, including power supply regulation electronics, movement detecting electronics such as a suitable accelerometer that can detect an impact by a cricket ball (or indeed by anything), any other form of sensing means that might be desired to be utilised, suitable lights such as LEDs to provide a visual indication of detected movement, suitable speakers or sound emitting devices if an audible indication of detected movement is utilised, and a suitable electrical contact with a power supply such as a fixed or removable electrochemical cell (as described below).

[0033] It will be appreciated that other elements, such as switching electronics for activation and control of LEDs, or current limiting and reverse polarity protection, may also be provided on the PCB, together with light sensors, data logging electronics, external communication electronics, and possibly an audible alert system such as a buzzer, all provided either wirelessly or wired as desired.

[00341 As mentioned above, in embodiments providing for a visual indication of movement, the cushioning and the outer housing are ideally transparent adjacent at least the visual movement indication (the LEDs), such that the LEDs are visible from outside the wicket component (through the cushioning and the outer housing) when they are activated in response to movement being detected. To achieve this, it is envisaged that the cushioning will be in the form of a transparent polymer, such that all of the cushioning material is transparent and there is thus no need for any alignment of a transparent portion of the cushioning with the LEDs. However, it is not essential that the cushioning all be transparent -the cushioning may for instance be a non-transparent insert that has apertures therethrough at locations adjacent the LEDs [0035] It is envisaged that the outer housing of the central operative portion of the wicket component will actually form a part of the outside wall of the wicket component, or will at least form a smooth continuum with the outside wall of the wicket component. In this respect, the outside walls of both bails and stumps may thus include transparent portions through which LEDs (as mentioned above) will be visible to players, spectators and umpires when movement (an impact) is detected and the LEDs light up. In this embodiment, any arrangement of transparent portions and LEDs may be adopted as required.

[0036) In relation to the provision of a power supply for the wicket components of the present invention, in a form foreshadowed above, the inner housing is hollow and is adapted to receive or include within its interior one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the electrical circuit. It is envisaged that this form will be particularly advantageous for use when the wicket component of the present invention is a bail, due to the smaller length of the bail as compared to a stump. Ideally, the electrochemical cells will be primary or secondary batteries, which may be either removable or internally rechargeable.

[0037] Alternatively, and particularly for use when the wicket component is a stump, an end of the inner housing may be adapted to connect electrically to an adjacent, second inner housing of a similar diameter, the second inner housing being arranged coaxially with the primary inner housing, possibly within an extended portion of an outer housing, this extended outer housing and the primary and secondary inner housings together forming an elongated central operative portion. In this form, the secondary inner housing may be adapted to receive or include within its hollow interior one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the electrical circuit.

[0038] It will also be appreciated that the second inner housing may have any of the cross-sections mentioned above that the primary inner housing may have. Such a second inner housing may also itself be a removable component, such as a removable battery compartment, that houses all of the necessary battery terminals or which can interconnect with the necessary electronics in the primary inner housing.

[0039] In a yet further alternative form, one or more electrochemical cells may be provided in a ground-engaging spike at the bottom of a stump which is only partially covered by the outer housing, which again may be in the form of a removable battery compartment containing, if desired, rechargeable batteries, or which may simply be removable to provide access to the electrochemical cells. Further still, a power source could be supplied by an external source, such as by an electrical cable or other wireless power transmission means (for example, an induction coil). Also, a stump could itself be used to power a bail either through cable or wireless connections, such as by one or both bails being electrically tethered to one or several stumps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0040] The present invention will now be described in relation to preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it must be appreciated that the following description of the illustrated embodiments is not to limit the generality of the above description of the inventive concepts.

[0041] In the drawings.

[0042] Figures la to 1d are side views and section views (as marked) of a wicket component in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wicket component being a bail; [0043] Figure 2a and 2b show an example of a PCB suitable for providing the electrical circuit for the embodiment of Figures 3a to 3d (below); and [0044] Figures 3a to 3d are side views and section views (as marked) of a wicket component in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wicket component being a stump.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0045] Illustrated in Figures la to ld is a wicket component for cricket, the wicket component being a bail 110, whereas in Figures 3a to 3d the illustrated wicket component is a stump 210. In this respect, it will be appreciated that elements that are common to both the bail 110 and the stump 210 will have the same final two digits in the reference numerals used in describing these illustrations.

[0046] Therefore, illustrated in the Figures 1 and 3 drawings are two exemplary wicket components (110,210) for cricket, being a bail 110 and a stump 210. Both of the wicket components (110,210) have a generally cylindrical form with a circular external cross-section (evident in Figures 1d and 3d), and include a central operative portion (112,212) having a tubular outer housing (114,214) and an inner housing (116,216) within and spaced from the outer housing (114,214). In this particular embodiment, the space (118,218) between the inner and outer housings includes an electrical circuit (120,220) for only visually indicating movement of the wicket component (110,210), being movement that occurs as a result of an impact to the component. As mentioned above, in other embodiments, this electrical circuit (120,220) might instead only audibly indicate movement, or may provide an electrical signal to an external person or device to indicate movement, or might include a combination of these indications. A skilled person will understand what modifications would be needed to the embodiment illustrated, which only allows for a visual indication, where other forms of movement indication are provided.

[0047] Returning to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, in relation to the reference to both of the wicket components (110,210) being generally cylindrical, it is to be appreciated that the general shape of a cricket bail is here being regarded as generally cylindrical given that the central operative portion 112 of the bail 110 is approximately cylindrical (and will typically always be at least approximately cylindrical), as are both of the spigots of the bail 110. In this respect though, it will be appreciated that the central operative portion 112 of the bail 110 may alternatively be shaped more like the barrel of a traditional wooden bail, which includes several circumferential grooves therealong, which is also here regarded as being generally cylindrical. The stump 210 shown in Figures 3a to 3d is of course more obviously cylindrical and will typically be much closer to geometrically cylindrical (within normal manufacturing tolerances) across almost its full length.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the cushioning (122,222) fills the entire space (118,218) between the inner and outer housings of the wicket components (110,210), and about the electrical circuit (120,220), to protect the electrical circuit (120,220) from shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component (110,210). The cushioning (122,222) is formed from a two-part, cold-curable polyurethane resin known as "Electrolube UR5640", which is a flowable, transparent material. The outer housing (114,214) is also formed from a transparent polymer so that the visual movement indication provided on the electrical circuit (120,220), such as a series of LEDs, is visible through the cushioning (122,222) and the outer housing (114,214) so as to be visible outside the wicket component (110,210). Of course, it will be appreciated that the visual movement indication might be visible through the cushioning and the outer housing by virtue of them having openings adjacent at least the portion of the electrical circuit that provides the visual movement indication (the LEDs).

[0049] Referring now only to Figure 1 b, the inner housing 116 is shown with an extended, threaded portion 124 suitable for engagement with a removable end cap 126 of the wicket component 110. The removable end cap 126 is able to enclose the interior 128 of the inner housing 116 such that a removable battery (not shown) can be contained within the interior 128 to power suitable electrical componentry 130 shown at the bottom end of the interior 128 in electrical communication with the electrical circuit [0050] At the other end of the outer housing 114 there is shown a fixed end cap 140 that engages with the outer housing 114 in a suitable snap-fit engagement. The end caps 126 and 140 obviously together form the two spigots of the bail 110 shown in Figures 1a to 1d.

[00511 In relation to the electrical circuit (120,220), in this embodiment, and as shown in Figures 2a and 2b, an electronic circuit 220 for the stump 210 is a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) of a size and configuration that may be wrapped about nearly all of the circumferential extent of the inner housing 216 of the stump 210. In this respect, the inner housing 216 is tubular and is thus hollow. In the stump 210 of this embodiment, the inner housing 216 has a generally circular cross-section (Figure 3d) to match the generally cylindrical shape of the stump 210, while the inner housing 116 of the bail 110 embodiment (Figure 1d) has a generally square cross-section. In relation to the bail 110, the equivalent PCB (not shown in Figures 2a and 2b) will ideally be shaped so as to wrap around the full extent of the generally square cross-section of its inner housing 116.

[0052] Ideally, the flexible PCB of Figures 2a and 2b is manufactured separately and simply wrapped around the inner housing (116,216) prior to the filling of the space (118,218) with the cushioning (122,222), with the cushioning material being such as to adhere and join the inner and outer housings and also the PCB.

[0053] In relation to the stump 210 of Figures 3a to 3d, an end 240 of the inner housing 216 may be adapted to connect to an adjacent, secondary inner housing 242 of a similar diameter, the secondary inner housing 242, which is arranged coaxially with the primary inner housing 216, being within an extended portion 244 of the outer housing 214 and having suitable electronics 243 to electrically connect the electrical circuit 220 to the further electronics of the secondary inner housing 242. In this embodiment, the extended outer housing (214,244) and the primary and secondary inner housings (216,242) together form an elongated central operative portion. The secondary housing 242 is shown with an interior 248 that is able to receive one or more removable batteries for providing power to the electrical circuit 220 about the primary inner housing 116.

[0054] As mentioned above though, it is envisaged that one or more electrochemical cells may be provided in the ground-engaging spike 250 at the bottom of the stump 210, which is only partially covered by the outer housing 214.

[0055] In conclusion, it must be appreciated that there may be other variations and modifications to the configurations described herein which are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (55)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows: A wicket component for cricket, the wicket component having a generally cylindrical form and being either a stump or a bail, the wicket component including a central operative portion having a tubular outer housing and an inner housing within and spaced from the outer housing, wherein: the space between the inner and outer housings includes an electrical circuit for indicating movement, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact; and cushioning at least partially fills the space between the inner and outer housings, and about the electrical circuit, to protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component.
2. A wicket component according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit provides a visual indication of movement, or an audible indication of movement, or an electrical signal to an external device or person as an indication of movement, or a combination of any two or more of these.
3. A wicket component according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cushioning mechanically joins the inner and outer housings and the electrical circuit.
4. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cushioning is a transparent polymer.
5. A wicket component according to claim 4, wherein the transparent polymer is selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of epoxy resins, silicone resins and polyurethanes, including two-part, cold-curable polyurethane resins.
6. A wicket component according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the transparent polymer is a two-part, thermosetting, optically clear polyurethane, with a hardness of between Shore A50 and Shore A90.
7. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electrical circuit within the space between the outer and inner housings is one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs).
8. A wicket component according to claim 7, wherein the one or more PCBs are flexible or partially flexible PCBs wrapped around, or incorporated with, or adjacent to, the inner housing.
9. A wicket component according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the PCB includes a series of laterally arranged slots therealong such that the slots allow for longitudinal movement and/or or flexing of the PCB, assisting with the provision of strain relief.
10. 10. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein movement detection is provided by an accelerometer, or a mechanical movement sensor, or a relative movement sensor.
11. 11. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the component is powered by an external power source.
12. 12. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the interior of the inner housing is adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the electrical circuit.
13. 13. A wicket component according to claim 12, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable batteries or are nonremovable rechargeable cells.
14. 14. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an end of the inner housing is adapted to connect to an adjacent, secondary inner housing of a similar diameter, the secondary inner housing, which is arranged coaxially with the primary inner housing, being within an extended portion of the outer housing and having electronics to electrically connect the electrical circuit to further electronics of the secondary inner housing, an extended outer housing and the primary and secondary inner housings together forming an elongated central operative portion.
15. 15. A wicket component according to claim 14, wherein the secondary inner housing is adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the primary inner housing and the electrical circuit.
16. 16. A wicket component according to claim 15, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable, or are non-removable rechargeable cells.
17. 17. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the wicket component is a bail.
18. 18. A wicket component according to claim 17, wherein the electrical circuit for indicating movement is for indicating movement of the bail, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact to the bail.
19. 19. A wicket component according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein longitudinally-arranged bail spigots are provided at both ends of the bail's central operative portion, with one spigot being formed as a removable threaded cap providing access to the interior of the inner housing.
20. 20. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the wicket component is a stump.
21. 21. A wicket component according to claim 20, wherein the electrical circuit for indicating movement is for indicating movement of the stump, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact to the stump.
22. 22. A wicket component according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein a longitudinally-arranged stump spike is provided at one end of the central operative portion, and a stump cap with a bail spigot groove on the outer end thereof is provided at the other end of the central operative portion, with the stump cap being formed as a removable threaded cap providing access to the interior of the secondary housing.
23. 23. A wicket component according to claim 22, wherein the stump spike is formed as a removable threaded spike adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the inner housing and the electrical circuit.
24. 24. A wicket component according to claim 23, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable, or are non-removable rechargeable cells.
25. 25. A cricket wicket including two bails in accordance with any one of claims 17 to 19, and three stumps in accordance with any one of claims 20 to 24.
26. 26. A cricket wicket according to claim 25, wherein the stumps are powered by an external power source and the bails are electrically tethered to at least one stump to be powered by the same external power source.
27. 27. A cricket wicket according to claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the electrical circuit for indicating movement is for indicating movement that occurs of either a stump or a bail, as a result of an impact to either the stump or the bail, including movement of any stump due to impact to any bail, movement of any bail due to impact to any stump, movement of any stump due to impact to any stump, and movement of any bail due to impact to any bail
28. 28. A wicket component for cricket, the wicket component having a generally cylindrical form and being either a stump or a bail, the wicket component including a central operative portion having a tubular outer housing and an inner housing within and spaced from the outer housing, wherein: (a) the space between the outer and inner housings includes an electrical circuit for visually indicating movement, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact; and (b) cushioning at least partially fills the space between the inner and outer housings to protect the electrical circuit from shock, being shock that occurs as a result of an impact to the wicket component; whereby (c) the visual movement indication is visible through the cushioning and the outer housing so as to be visible outside the wicket component.
29. 29. A wicket component according to claim 28, wherein the visual movement indication is visible through the cushioning and the outer housing by virtue of them being formed from a transparent material, and/or having an otherwise transparent portion, adjacent at least the portion of the electrical circuit that provides the visual movement indication.
30. 30. A wicket component according to claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the cushioning mechanically joins the inner and outer housings and the electrical circuit.
31. 31. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the cushioning is a transparent polymer.
32. 32. A wicket component according to claim 31, wherein the transparent polymer is selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of epoxy resins, silicone resins and polyurethanes, including two-part, cold-curable polyurethane resins.
33. 33. A wicket component according to claim 31 or claim 32, wherein the transparent polymer is a two-part, thermosetting, optically clear polyurethane, with a hardness of between Shore A50 and Shore A90.
34. 34. A wicket component according to any one of claims 1 to 33, wherein the electrical circuit within the space between the outer and inner housings is one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs).
35. 35. A wicket component according to claim 34, wherein the one or more PCBs are flexible or partially flexible PCBs wrapped around, or incorporated with, or adjacent to, the inner housing.
36. 36. A wicket component according to claim 34 or claim 35, wherein the visual movement indication is provided by lights, such as LEDs, arranged on the PCB in a pre-determined pattern.
37. 37. A wicket component according to any one of claims 34 to 36, wherein the PCB includes a series of laterally arranged slots therealong such that the slots allow for longitudinal movement and/or or flexing of the PCB, assisting with the provision of strain relief.
38. 38. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 37, wherein movement detection is provided by an accelerometer or a mechanical movement sensor.
39. 39. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 38, wherein the component is powered by an external power source.
40. 40. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 38, wherein the interior of the inner housing is adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the electrical circuit.
41. 41. A wicket component according to claim 40, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable batteries or are nonremovable rechargeable cells.
42. 42. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 41, wherein an end of the inner housing is adapted to connect to an adjacent, secondary inner housing of a similar diameter, the secondary inner housing, which is arranged coaxially with the primary inner housing, being within an extended portion of the outer housing and having electronics to electrically connect the electrical circuit to further electronics of the secondary inner housing, an extended outer housing and the primary and secondary inner housings together forming an elongated central operative portion.
43. 43. A wicket component according to claim 42, wherein the secondary inner housing is adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the primary inner housing and the electrical circuit.
44. 44. A wicket component according to claim 43, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable, or are non-removable rechargeable cells.
45. 45. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 44, wherein the wicket component is a bail.
46. 46. A wicket component according to claim 45, wherein the electrical circuit for visually indicating movement is for visually indicating movement of the bail, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact to the bail.
47. 47. A wicket component according to claim 45 or claim 46, wherein longitudinally-arranged bail spigots are provided at both ends of the bail's central operative portion, with one spigot being formed as a removable threaded cap providing access to the interior of the inner housing.
48. 48. A wicket component according to any one of claims 28 to 44, wherein the wicket component is a stump.
49. 49. A wicket component according to claim 48, wherein the electrical circuit for visually indicating movement is for visually indicating movement of the stump, being movement that occurs as a result of an impact to the stump.
50. 50. A wicket component according to claim 48 or claim 49, wherein a longitudinally-arranged stump spike is provided at one end of the central operative portion, and a stump cap with a bail spigot groove on the outer end thereof is provided at the other end of the central operative portion, with the stump cap being formed as a removable threaded cap providing access to the interior of the secondary housing.
51. 51. A wicket component according to claim 50, wherein the stump spike is formed as a removable threaded spike adapted to receive or include one or more electrochemical cells for providing power to the inner housing and the electrical circuit.
52. 52. A wicket component according to claim 51, wherein the electrochemical cells are removable, or are non-removable rechargeable cells.
53. 53. A cricket wicket including two bails in accordance with any one of claims 45 to 47, and three stumps in accordance with any one of claims 48 to 52.
54. 54. A cricket wicket according to claim 53, wherein the stumps are powered by an external power source and the bails are electrically tethered to at least one stump to be powered by the same external power source.
55. 55. A cricket wicket according to claim 53 or claim 54, wherein the electrical circuit for visually indicating movement is for visually indicating movement that occurs of either a stump or a bail, as a result of an impact to either the stump or the bail, including movement of any stump due to impact to any bail, movement of any bail due to impact to any stump, movement of any stump due to impact to any stump, and movement of any bail due to impact to any bail.