On Side vs Off Side: Cricket's Fundamental Fielding Geography
Cricket's split between on side and off side shapes how batsmen score, how captains field, and how the game is discussed. This guide explains what both sides mean and why the distinction matters.
Frequently asked questions
Is the on side always the leg side?
Yes — 'on side' and 'leg side' are interchangeable terms. Both refer to the side of the ground that corresponds to the batsman's legs when standing normally at the crease. Some commentators prefer 'on side' as it sounds more natural in phrases like 'on-side boundary'; others prefer 'leg side' for clarity about which side of the body is involved. In official scorecards and Laws of Cricket, 'leg side' is the more formal term.
Do left-handed batsmen have opposite on/off sides?
Yes — because a left-handed batsman stands with their right shoulder toward the bowler, their off side is to their right as they face the bowler (where the off stump is for a right-hander's leg side). The geography of the field reverses completely: a right-arm bowler bowling outside a left-hander's 'off stump' is bowling toward what would be a right-hander's leg side. This is the geographic disruption that makes a left-right batting partnership difficult to bowl at.