The Slip Cordon: How Catching Positions Behind the Wicket Work
The slip cordon — one, two, or three fielders positioned behind the off-side wicket to catch edges — is cricket's primary wicket-taking field configuration with the new ball. This guide covers slip fielding positions, how slips coordinate, catching technique, and cricket's greatest slip catchers.
Slip fielders position themselves behind the wicket on the off side to catch edges from seam and swing bowling. A slip cordon typically comprises first, second, and third slip — positioned progressively wider from the wicket keeper. A gully (positioned squarer, halfway between third slip and point) is sometimes added. The cordon's purpose: an away-swinging or seam delivery that takes an outside edge will travel behind the batsman in the slip-gully corridor — without fielders there, the edge goes for four; with slip fielders, it's caught.
Positioning Slip Fielders
Slip positioning varies with pace and swing: against fast bowling (140+ km/h), slips stand deeper (further from the batsman) to give themselves time to react — the ball reaches the edge faster; against spin bowling, slips stand closer (the ball arrives more slowly and the edge carries less distance). The first slip stands close to the wicket keeper's wide side; second slip is positioned so that the ball going between wicket keeper and first slip, or between first and second slip, has minimal gap. When three slips are deployed, the cordon covers from just outside the wicket keeper to approximately 45 degrees behind the batsman.
Catching Technique
Elite slip catching technique: the starting position is low (bent knees, weight forward) to allow the hands to travel to any height without a large preparatory movement — slips must catch at shin height, waist height, and above the head off the same stance; the hands start low (high hands drop; low hands rise quickly); concentration must be sustained over a full over — a slip fielder takes 100% focus for 6 deliveries at a time, then rests; and 'soft hands' at the moment of contact absorb the ball rather than rebounding it.
When Teams Remove Slips
Teams remove slip fielders when: the new ball has worn (seam movement reduces, making edges less likely in the slip direction); a defensive field is required (protecting a total, prioritising economy over wickets); or on flat pitches where batting is easy and boundary prevention is the priority. A team bowling in a T20 match never deploys slip fielders — the scoring rate priority means boundary prevention trumps edge-catching probability. Test cricket maintains slip fielders much longer into a partnership because wickets are valued over run-rate management.
Frequently asked questions
What are slip fielders in cricket?
Slip fielders are positioned behind the off-side wicket to catch edges from the bat. First slip stands closest to the wicket keeper; second slip wider; third slip wider still. A gully is positioned squarer of first slip (closer to the batsman's right shoulder). Slip fielders are deployed primarily with the new ball when seam and swing bowling creates frequent outside edges. Teams typically use 2-3 slips in Test cricket with the new ball; fewer or none on flat pitches or in limited-overs formats.
Who is the best slip catcher in cricket history?
Several players are considered the greatest slip catchers in cricket history: Rahul Dravid (India) held the Test catch record for many years (210 catches); Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) is first on the all-time Test catches list; and Mark Taylor (Australia) is widely considered the finest in technique and anticipation. Among moderns, Steve Smith (Australia), David Warner, and Joe Root have excellent slip records. The debate usually comes down to technical consistency (Dravid/Taylor) vs volume (Jayawardene).
How many slip fielders are normally used in cricket?
Test cricket typically uses 2-3 slips plus a gully with the new ball (especially in seam-friendly conditions). One slip is common in the middle overs when batting is settled. Zero slips is common in the final stages of a Test batting by a confident team. In ODI cricket, 1-2 slips are used in the powerplay (overs 1-10) and typically removed in middle overs. In T20 cricket, slips are almost never used — boundary prevention and pace of deliveries make the field defensive rather than attacking.