Mid On: Fielding's Straight-Side Specialist Position
Mid on covers the straight-on leg-side ground, one of the most frequently hit areas in cricket, requiring sure hands, good anticipation, and the ability to support the bowler directly.
The Mid On Position and Its Role
Mid on stands on the leg side approximately 20-25 metres from the bat, level with the stumps at the bowling end. The position is directly in front of a right-handed batsman's straight-drive path and covers the area where on-drives, straight drives pushed slightly to the on, and defensive pushes find the gap between the bowler and mid on. In limited-overs cricket, mid on is one of the mandatory 'inner ring' positions (fielders within 30 yards) during non-powerplay overs. The fielder at mid on also frequently receives the ball thrown in from the boundary when the ball is hit to the off side and backing-up is required. In Test cricket, the captain regularly uses mid on as a 'bowler's comfort zone' fielder — positioning their best close catcher at mid on when a spinner is bowling to catch the mishit drive.
Catching at Mid On
Catches at mid on are among the more straightforward opportunities in cricket — the ball typically arrives at a conventional height (waist or chest) from a drive or push shot, and the fielder has time to position correctly. However, the ball can arrive very fast from a cleanly struck drive, requiring the fielder to be alert and hands-ready at all times. The more challenging catches at mid on are the 'caught and bowled' return catches for the bowler — where the batsman drives straight and the ball goes directly at the bowler, who must catch it off their own bowling action. Fielders at mid on also take catches from mishit slog-swept balls that go to the leg side but not far enough for long on — these arrive at difficult angles and heights. A reliable mid on fielder prevents these from going to the boundary while also providing a catching threat.
Positioning Against Different Batsman Types
A left-handed batsman changes mid on's relevant role — the position is now on the right side of the field (mirrored from the right-hander's perspective), covering the on-drive of the left-hander. Captains adjust mid on's depth based on the specific batsman's tendency: a batsman who predominantly hits straight for 1s gets mid on brought up to cut off the single; a slog-sweeping batsman gets mid on dropped to deep mid on to protect the boundary. Against spin bowling, mid on is often placed as a specialist catching position — at 15-18 metres, right in the driving zone, where a mishit drive off a spinner goes straight to mid on's hands. This 'saving the single and catching' combination makes mid on one of the most tactically active positions on the field.
Frequently asked questions
What is the relationship between mid on and mid off?
Mid on (leg side) and mid off (off side) form a pair of fielding positions that cover the straight hitting zone on either side of the pitch. Most bowling captains set both positions simultaneously — if mid on is pushed up, mid off is usually also pushed up; if mid on goes to the boundary for a big hitter, deep mid off is also set. The complementary placement means straight hitting can only score 4s if both fielders are beaten — a ball hit to one of them prevents that run. Experienced batsmen look for imbalances between mid on and mid off to identify scoring opportunities: if the captain has only set one of the two (unusual but possible), the other straight-hitting gap becomes open for boundaries. The pairing of mid on and mid off is one of cricket's default fielding configurations.
Which fielders are traditionally the best at mid on?
All-rounders and pace bowlers who no longer field at slip (due to the bowling rotation) often patrol mid on — it's a position where good hands are needed but the highest-intensity athletic movement isn't required. Ricky Ponting was noted for his excellent work at mid on despite spending most of his fielding at more athletic positions. In the modern era, Steve Smith frequently fields at mid on when Australia's bowling attack is in and his close-catching skills aren't required in the slips — he's noted for his catching in the straight fielding positions. Captains who bat themselves often field at mid on when their team is in the field, using the position's central location to communicate with the bowler and coordinate field adjustments.
Can a fielder at mid on be dismissed for obstructing the batsman?
No — a fielder at mid on cannot be dismissed because only batsmen can be dismissed under Law 37. However, a fielder who deliberately obstructs a running batsman (physically blocking their running path) can cause the umpires to award 5 penalty runs to the batting side under Law 41 (Fielder Unfairly Fielding). In practice, collision between a running batsman and a fielder at mid on during a quick run is treated as accidental contact with no penalty. Fielders at mid on who are standing in the running line when a batsman is completing a run should move to a fielding position outside the running path. If a mid on fielder deliberately moves into the batsman's running path to impede them, that would be an umpiring decision based on intent.