The Point Fielding Position: Cut Shots, Coverage, and Who Stands There
The point position is one of cricket's most active off-side fielding positions — square of the wicket on the off side, about 15-20 metres from the batsman. This article explains what balls the point fielder deals with (cut shots, thick edges, drives angled square), what physical attributes the position demands, and how the point position changes with the bowler and match situation.
Where Point Stands
Point is positioned square of the wicket on the off side — at approximately 90 degrees from the batsman's crease — at a distance of 15-25 metres from the bat. The exact position varies: 'point' is the standard name, 'square point' stands slightly squarer (closer to 100 degrees), and 'cover point' sits between point and cover (approximately 60-70 degrees from the batsman). A 'deep point' position (20-30 metres) is used defensively when boundaries need to be saved. Point is a high-activity fielding position: the cut shot — one of cricket's most common attacking strokes against deliveries outside off stump — travels directly toward point, and the position must be occupied by a fielder capable of stopping the cut, taking one-handed diving catches from thick edges, and throwing accurately to the wicketkeeper.
What the Point Fielder Deals With
Balls arriving at point: the square cut (a bat swing angled square-on to a wide delivery, sending the ball directly toward point at high speed along the ground); the thick outside edge (a ball edged off an attempted drive that deflects at a lower speed toward point); the late cut (played very late, sending the ball fine of point and requiring a diving stop or sprinting interception); and the backward defensive that deflects off the outside edge into the point zone. Point fielders must also anticipate the batsman attempting a quick single toward point — a well-struck defensive block off a short-of-a-length delivery might produce a quick call for a run, requiring the point fielder to gather and throw quickly.
Physical and Technical Demands
The point position requires: exceptional reflexes (the cut shot travels at full bat speed, arriving at point faster than most fielding reactions); lateral agility (the point fielder must move quickly left, right, or forward depending on the shot's exact angle); diving and catching ability (thick edges in the point zone arrive at awkward heights and speeds, requiring one-handed catches while diving); and throwing accuracy (the point fielder often catches or stops the ball while moving laterally and must recover quickly to throw to the keeper end). The position is typically occupied by the team's best athletic fielder in the off-side region — a contrast to third man, which is the traditional rest position. Jonty Rhodes and David Warner in different eras exemplify different athletic fielding profiles that both excelled at point.
Frequently asked questions
Is point always on the off side?
By definition, yes — 'point' is an off-side fielding position. The equivalent leg-side position (square of the wicket on the leg side) is called 'square leg.' When a left-handed batsman faces a right-arm bowler, what was the off side for a right-hander becomes the on side, so the 'point' fielder is now on the batsman's leg side relative to their body — but the field position name 'point' remains and the fielder doesn't move (what changes is which side of the batsman they are on, relative to the batsman's body orientation). Cricket's field position names are fixed relative to the pitch geometry, not relative to a specific batsman's body orientation.
How does the point fielder adjust when a left-handed batsman comes in?
When a left-handed batsman replaces a right-handed batsman, the captain typically mirrors the field: 'point' for a right-hander (off side, square) becomes irrelevant in its exact position, and the captain may move the point fielder to 'square leg' on the leg side of the left-hander (which is the off side in terms of the pitch). The cut shot for a left-handed batsman goes to the left side of the pitch (toward what is square leg in right-handed terms), so the point fielder moves across to cover that zone. In practice, the captain announces a field change when a left-hander replaces a right-hander, and the fielders rotate to mirror-image positions.
Can the point fielder take a catch off the wicketkeeper's pad?
No — if the wicketkeeper deflects a ball, it can only be caught by other fielders if it has not already touched the ground (a ball that bounces off the ground after touching the keeper's pads cannot be caught for a dismissal). However, a ball that goes off the keeper's gloves and flies directly toward point — without touching the ground — is catchable at point for a dismissal (it would count as 'caught' with the dismissal credited to the catcher, not the keeper). This is unusual but does occur: a very thick outside edge might touch the keeper's gloves and fly at pace toward point at catchable height. The laws allow such a catch if the ball has not touched the ground between keeper contact and fielder contact.