Gully: The Catching Position That Feeds on Edges
The gully fielding position — stationed behind square on the off side, between point and the slip cordon — and its role as one of cricket's most important catching positions. How gully catches differ from slip catches in angle and timing, why gully requires different reflexes from slip, when captains add or remove gully from the field, and the specific shot types (the cut, the slash, the top edge) that gully is positioned to intercept.
Where Gully Sits
Gully occupies the space between point (90 degrees from the wickets) and the slip cordon (almost directly behind the batsman on the off side). It is typically stationed at 100-120 degrees from the straight — backward of square on the off side, at catching distance (5-12 metres from the bat) rather than fielding distance. Gully is most frequently placed alongside a slip cordon: when a captain positions first slip, second slip, and gully, they cover the full arc of the outside edge — from the fine edges (first slip) through the wider slashes (gully). Gully without a slip cordon is unusual — it covers the wider edges but leaves fine edges uncaught.
The Gully Catch
Gully catches arrive differently from slip catches. A slip catch is typically a result of the ball seaming or swinging away from the batsman's outside edge — the ball travels relatively fine (nearly straight back) after contact. A gully catch results from a wider edge off a drive or cut shot — the ball travels at a broader angle from the bat, squarer and with more pace. Gully must react to: the cut shot edge (the batsman misses the cut and the ball takes the outside edge going backward of square), the slash off a wide ball (a wide delivery the batsman attempts to hit over point and top-edges or thick-edges to gully), or the firm push through covers that clips the outside edge. These all arrive at different angles and heights — gully must be versatile.
Reflexes Required
Gully catches are among cricket's most demanding reflexively because: the ball can arrive from a wider range of angles than slip (gully is further from the edge's predictable fine-edge direction), the ball is often travelling quickly (cut shots and slashes generate significant bat speed), and the fielder must track the ball from a wider starting angle. The preparation position for gully: slightly crouched, weight forward on the balls of the feet, hands relaxed and forward — identical to slip fielding preparation. Many captains use fielders who have slip experience at gully because the catching mechanics (low hands, soft grab) transfer well. Pure batsmen who have not practiced close catching are rarely placed at gully for this reason.
Frequently asked questions
When does a captain add gully to the slip cordon?
A captain adds gully when: the bowling conditions produce edge-to-gully chances (short-pitched bowling that the batsman attempts to cut, or wide bowling that provokes slashes), a specific batsman is known to slash or cut into the gully zone, or the pitch conditions (fast, bouncy) encourage cut shot attempts that frequently produce gully edges. Gully is removed when: run containment is more important than close catching (a defensive field with boundary fielders), the bowling plan doesn't generate cut-shot or slash chances (straight bowling to leg stump, for example), or the batsman never plays cut shots and gully has had nothing to do in many overs.
Is gully the same position as 'backward point'?
Gully and backward point overlap in terminology and sometimes in physical location, but they are conventionally different positions. Backward point is approximately 100-110 degrees from straight on the off side, at typically deeper depth (15-25 metres from the bat). Gully is at 100-120 degrees but at close-catching depth (5-12 metres). The distinction is primarily depth: close-in backward of point is gully; outfield backward of point is backward point. Some fielding arrangements use 'wide gully' — closer to backward point's depth but still in a catching zone — when the batsman is likely to edge a cut that carries further. The names overlap in commentary and can be context-dependent.
How many catchers can a captain have in the slip-and-gully region at once?
There is no fielding rules limit specifically for the slip-and-gully region — a captain can place as many fielders as they choose in any configuration. In practice, the slip-plus-gully arrangement depends on how many fielders can be spared from boundary protection and run-saving duties. In a test match's early overs with a new ball, a field of first slip, second slip, third slip, gully, and fine leg represents 5 catching-or-saving positions behind the bat on the off side. This is common in test cricket but would leave significant gaps elsewhere in the field. Very occasionally, teams place 4-5 slip fielders plus a gully when pursuing an aggressive catching strategy on a seaming pitch.