Primarily, it was the object of central focus in the sport of cricket. Comprised of three stumps and two bails, it was the thing that batsmen were guarding and the thing bowlers were attacking. Batsmen were dismissed if the bowler made the bails fall off the stumps by sending his ball past the batsman into the wicket. This act often drew loud reaction by on-lookers and players alike. From inside the comfort of the Black Horse Inn in the village of Cherhill, the Brigadier, for instance, could hear the spectators react when wickets fell. (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon)