Cricket Fielding Positions: The Complete Guide to Every Name and Location
Cricket has over 25 named fielding positions — from fine leg to deep extra cover to silly mid-on. Understanding where they are and why they exist is essential for understanding tactical commentary. This guide maps every major fielding position, explains the naming convention, and shows how field placements respond to different batting and bowling situations.
Cricket's fielding position naming system: positions are named by their relationship to the batsman at the crease. Off side = the batsman's right side (for a right-hander); leg side = the batsman's left side. 'Square' positions are approximately 90 degrees from the batsman (at right angles); 'deep' positions are close to the boundary; 'short' or 'silly' positions are very close to the batsman (high-risk catching positions). The naming convention: deep square leg (far, at 90 degrees on leg side), short cover (close, on off side at 45 degrees), silly mid-on (dangerously close, on leg side, 20-30 yards from bat).
Off Side Positions
Off side fielding positions (right of the batsman for a right-hander): Slip — directly behind the batsman at the off side, 2-10 yards behind the stumps; Gully — 45 degrees to the right of the batsman, 15-20 yards; Point — 90 degrees to the batsman's right, inside the ring; Cover — 45-50 degrees, inside the ring; Extra Cover — slightly squarer than cover; Mid Off — 20-25 degrees to the off side, closer to the bowler; Long Off — deep mid-off position, near the boundary; Deep Cover — cover's deep equivalent; Third Man — 140-170 degrees behind the batsman on the off side. The off side positions are primarily catching positions (slip, gully, point) and boundary-saving positions (long off, deep cover, third man).
Leg Side Positions
Leg side fielding positions (left of the right-handed batsman): Fine Leg — behind square on the leg side (140-170 degrees); Square Leg — 90 degrees to the batsman's left; Mid Wicket — 60-70 degrees on the leg side; Mid On — 20-25 degrees on the leg side (closer to the bowler); Long On — deep mid-on, near the boundary on the leg side; Deep Mid Wicket — mid-wicket's deep equivalent; Leg Slip — behind the batsman on the leg side, to the keeper's left; Short Fine Leg — finer than square leg, closer to the batsman. The leg side is used for defensive placements (against pull shots to deep mid-wicket, top-edges to fine leg) and for specialist catching positions (leg slip for inside edges off fast bowling).
Reading the Field
Captains adjust the field based on: the bowler's type (more slips and gully for swing; more leg-side fielders for in-swing); the batsman's scoring zones (from wagon wheel analysis); and match situation (attacking fielders close to the bat for wickets; defensive fielders at the boundary to restrict scoring). When commentators describe a fielding change — 'he's moved cover to deep cover' — this tells you: the captain believes the batsman is about to attack through the cover region (moving from catching position to boundary-saving position). Field placements are tactical signals: bringing mid-off in from long-off signals the captain is setting a catching position for the off drive (inviting the shot while reducing the deep fielder).
Frequently asked questions
What are the fielding positions in cricket?
Cricket's main fielding positions: Off side (right of the right-handed batsman): slip, gully, point, cover, extra cover, mid-off, long-off, deep cover, third man. Leg side (left of the right-handed batsman): fine leg, square leg, mid-wicket, mid-on, long-on, deep mid-wicket, leg slip. Behind the stumps: wicketkeeper (does not count as an outfield fielder). Close positions (inside 15 yards): silly mid-on, silly mid-off, short leg, leg gully. 'Deep' variants of any position move the fielder toward the boundary; 'short' variants move them closer to the batsman. 11 players including the keeper, so 10 outfield positions in a typical game.
What is the difference between slip and gully?
Slip is positioned directly behind the batsman to the off side — typically 2-8 yards behind the stumps (first slip is immediately to the keeper's right; second slip further away). Gully is positioned at approximately 45 degrees to the batsman's right, roughly 15-20 yards from the bat — wider and more square than slip. Slip catches the outside edge of the bat that deflects directly backward (90-120 degrees from the bat face); gully catches cut shots and firm drives that fly wider (45-90 degrees from the bat face). Both are catching positions used with the new ball or against batsmen who play the cut shot, but they occupy different areas of the field.
What is a mid-on in cricket?
Mid-on is a fielding position on the leg side, approximately 20-30 yards from the batsman, in line with a straight shot to the on side. It is positioned to stop the on drive and restrict straight hits to the leg side. Deepened, it becomes 'long on' — positioned near the leg-side straight boundary. 'Silly mid-on' is placed very close (10-15 yards) to the batsman, used against spin bowling to catch chips and defensive mishits. Mid-on, with its leg-side partner mid-off (on the off side), are the two positions nearest to the bowling side of the pitch — often used for restricting singles and for catching drives in the air.