Hit wicket

Hit wicket on a free hit

Not out. Hit wicket isn't one of the ways you can be out on a free hit.

• On a free hit the striker can only be out in the ways allowed off a no-ball: run out, hit the ball twice, or obstructing the field (ICC 21.19.2 and 21.18).

Not a Law: Free hits are an ICC playing condition, not an MCC Law. In a local match there is a free hit only if the organizer says so; without one, the ball after a no-ball is an ordinary delivery.

Source: ICC T20I clause 21.19 · MCC Law 35

Hit wicket off a no-ball

Not out. Hit wicket doesn't apply when the delivery is a no-ball.

• Off a no-ball, neither batter can be out except hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or run out (Law 21.17).
• Law 35.2 lists "the delivery is a No ball" among the times a batter is not out hit wicket.

Source: MCC Law 21 · MCC Law 35

Hit wicket off a wide

Yes — hit wicket still applies on a wide. Only the 1-run wide penalty is scored.

• Off a wide, a batter can only be out hit wicket, obstructing the field, run out or stumped (Law 22.9).
• When a striker is out hit wicket, no runs are scored except the wide's penalty and any 5-run penalties (Law 35.3).

Source: MCC Law 22 · MCC Law 35

Hit wicket while running

Not out. Hit wicket only applies while you're receiving the ball or setting off for your first run straight after. Breaking your wicket later while running, or while avoiding a run out or a throw, is not out.

• Law 35.1.1 lists when hit wicket applies; Law 35.2 lists these cases as not out.

Source: MCC Law 35

Breaking your wicket before the ball is bowled

Not out — the umpire calls dead ball. Hit wicket only applies once the bowler has entered the delivery stride.

• Law 35.1.2: if the striker breaks their wicket before the bowler has entered the delivery stride, either umpire calls and signals dead ball.

Source: MCC Law 35

The batter's helmet falls onto the stumps

Not out. A helmet coming off the striker and breaking the wicket does not count as hit wicket.

• Law 29.2.1.4: detached equipment can break the wicket — but that expressly excludes the striker's protective helmet.

Source: MCC Law 29 · MCC Law 35

Part of a broken bat hits the stumps

Out, hit wicket — if it happens while the striker is playing at the ball or setting off for the first run. A piece of bat that breaks off counts as breaking the wicket.

• Law 29.2.1.3: for hit wicket, the wicket can be broken by a detached part of the bat.
• Law 35.1 sets when hit wicket applies.

Source: MCC Law 29 · MCC Law 35