The Gully Trap — How the Gully Fielding Position Works
Where gully stands, what catches it takes, and how captains use the gully trap to dismiss batters playing through the off side.
Gully is one of cricket's most specialist fielding positions — standing squarely to the off side of the batter, roughly between point and the slips, close enough to take sharp catches off edges but wider than the slips cordon. A sharp gully fielder is crucial in pace bowling conditions where batters play away from the body and expose the outside edge.
Where Gully Stands
Gully positions itself at roughly a 45-degree angle to the batter's off side, further back than point and wider than slip. The exact position depends on the pitch, the bowler's pace, and the batter's tendencies. Against fast bowlers on bouncy pitches, gully stands squarer and deeper to catch top-edged pull shots or thick outside edges that fly through at catchable height.
The Gully Trap
The gully trap is a tactical field setting designed to dismiss batters who play expansively through the off side. The captain moves a fielder to gully specifically for a batter who has a tendency to play away from the body or who edges through that corridor. With no obvious gap in that direction, the batter either avoids the shot or risks edging to gully. When used in tandem with a ball pitched on off stump or outside, the gully trap creates a run of dismissals.
Skills Required
Gully demands quick reactions, safe hands, and the ability to field both high and low catches. The ball arrives very fast — sometimes within a metre of the fielder — and the trajectory can be unpredictable. Low, skimming edges require the fielder to get low quickly; high top edges require them to move back and look up into the sun. Jonty Rhodes, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Smith are famous for spectacular gully catches.
When Gully Is Set
Gully is most commonly set in pace-friendly conditions — particularly on seaming pitches in England, South Africa, and New Zealand where the ball moves late and outside edges are frequent. Spin bowlers rarely need gully because the ball moves more slowly and edges tend to travel straight to slip rather than wide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gully and point?
Point stands squarer to the batter and is primarily used to stop cuts and punches. Gully stands finer (closer to the wicket line) and is specifically set for edges off pace bowling.
Is gully a safe position to field in?
It can be demanding — high-pace edges arrive very fast. Good reflexes and concentration are essential. It is generally safer than silly mid-on but sharper than deep fielding positions.
Can gully take a catch off a spinner?
Yes, but it is rare. When a spinner gets a thick outside edge, gully can be a catcher, especially if the ball is hit hard.