Cricket stumps are three vertical posts that form part of the wicket in the game of cricket. They are typically made of wood and stand 28 inches tall. The stumps are placed in a straight line, with a gap between them, and are topped by two horizontal pieces called the bails. The primary purpose of the stumps is to provide a target for the bowler and to indicate when a batsman is out. If the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, the batsman is considered "bowled." This makes the stumps a crucial element in the game.