Cow Corner: Cricket's Quirky Deep Mid-Wicket Boundary Position
Cow corner is an informal cricket term for a specific deep fielding position between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg — the zone where big slog shots frequently land. This article covers why cow corner is named as it is, what kinds of shots target it, and how fielding captains use the position in modern limited-overs cricket.
Where Cow Corner Is
Cow corner is positioned on the leg side of the ground, approximately between deep mid-wicket (directly behind square, wider on the leg side) and deep backward square leg — a zone roughly 45-60 degrees from the stumps on the on side at boundary depth. The informal name originates from English club cricket's rural grounds where actual cows grazed in that area of the outfield — the zone was literally a cow pasture before proper boundaries were marked. In modern cricket, cow corner is the position where left-handed slog shots (for right-handed batsmen) frequently land: the cross-bat slog toward the leg side from a right-handed batsman typically projects the ball toward the cow corner zone. For a left-handed batsman, the equivalent 'slog zone' would be on the off side.
What Shots Target Cow Corner
The primary shots targeting cow corner: the slog sweep (a powerful sweep aimed to clear the boundary in the cow corner arc); the flat-bat slog (a horizontal bat shot where the batsman swings powerfully across the line at a full delivery — the ball launches from the top edge or middle of the bat toward the mid-wicket/cow corner zone); and the flick over mid-wicket (a powerful on-drive or flick from a delivery aimed at the pads — the ball clears the infield and lands in the cow corner arc). The common factor: these are all leg-side boundary shots from right-handed batsmen that project the ball at approximately 45-60 degrees on the on side. High strike rate T20 batsmen who target this arc specifically practice 'cow corner clean-up' shots — premeditated slog attempts designed to land in this consistently under-defended zone.
Fielding the Cow Corner Position
The cow corner fielder is typically one of the 5 outside-circle positions in limited-overs cricket. The position requires a fielder who: can cover a wide arc of the boundary (the cow corner zone is broad — the ideal fielder has exceptional running speed to reach balls hit either deep-square or deeper toward mid-wicket); has reliable long-distance throwing accuracy (catches near the cow corner boundary require a long throw to the stumps if the catch is completed and a relay throw situation arises); and has safe high-ball catching ability (slog sweeps often loop high into the air — the fielder must take high, simple catches reliably under pressure). Some limited-overs teams place their best athlete in the cow corner position specifically because the aerial ball catching combined with wide boundary coverage demands peak fielding quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is cow corner a recognized fielding position name in the Laws of Cricket?
Cow corner is not an official term in the Laws of Cricket — it is an informal, colloquial name that evolved from English cricket culture. The official fielding position in that zone would be described as 'deep mid-wicket' or 'deep square leg' depending on exactly where the fielder is positioned. The Laws of Cricket do not specify named fielding positions at all — captains can place fielders wherever they choose within the fielding restriction rules, and position names are convention rather than law. Other informal position names that are widely used but not in the Laws: gully, cow corner, third man, and covers — all are conventional cricket vocabulary that everyone understands but none are defined in the Laws themselves.
Why don't all teams always have a fielder at cow corner in T20s?
In T20 cricket, teams have only 5 outside-circle positions available — the cow corner position competes with fine leg, deep square leg, deep mid-wicket, long-on, long-off, and third man for the 5 available slots. A captain cannot protect all boundary zones simultaneously and must choose which 5 zones to assign based on the bowler's plan, the batsman's hitting tendencies, and the match situation. Cow corner is only worth a specific fielder assignment when the batsman's wagon wheel (shot-mapping) shows a high frequency of shots landing in that arc — if the batsman predominantly hits straight (long-on/long-off zones) or fine (third man/fine leg), cow corner may have lower priority than other boundary zones.
What is the difference between deep mid-wicket and cow corner?
Deep mid-wicket and cow corner occupy similar but not identical arcs: deep mid-wicket is typically positioned closer to 90 degrees from the stumps (directly behind square on the on side), while cow corner is slightly finer — between 45 and 70 degrees, closer to the wicketkeeper's line but on the leg side. The practical difference: a deep mid-wicket fielder positioned exactly at 90 degrees would not reach a ball landing in the cow corner zone without running significantly; the cow corner position bridges the gap between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. Some captains combine the positions by placing one deep fielder in the midpoint between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg — this single position covers both zones imperfectly but avoids using a second fielder on the boundary.