Every Cricket Fielding Position Explained — From Slip to Long-On
Cricket's fielding positions — slip, gully, cover, mid-on, square leg — can confuse new fans. This complete guide explains every position, where it's placed, and what it's designed to stop.
The Field Layout
A cricket field is divided into the off side (to the right of a right-handed batsman's body — towards the off stump) and the leg side (to the left of the batsman, towards the leg stump). Most fielding position names indicate their location relative to the batsman's body and their proximity to the wicket. 'Slip' positions are close to the wicket on the off side; 'long-on' is far from the wicket on the leg side.
Close Catching Positions: Slip and Gully
The slip cordon stands behind the batsman on the off side — first slip is closest to the wicketkeeper, second slip next, then third slip. They catch deflections from the bat's edge. Gully stands squarer than the slip cordon — about 45 degrees behind the batsman on the off side — catching balls edged more squarely. Silly mid-off and silly mid-on are close-in positions in front of the batsman for catching drives hit without full power. These are the positions that take the majority of catches in Test cricket.
Outfield Positions: Long-On, Long-Off, Deep Square Leg
Long-on is positioned at the boundary behind the bowler, on the leg side — designed to stop sixes over mid-on and to catch mishits from attempted sixes. Long-off mirrors this on the off side, stopping drives hit too hard through mid-off. Deep square leg is at the boundary on the leg side, 90 degrees to the pitch, positioned to stop pulls and hooks. These positions are used when the batting team is attacking and the fielding team is protecting the boundary.
Mid-On, Mid-Off, Cover and Point
Mid-on and mid-off are positioned either side of the pitch at about 30-40 yards from the batsman — designed to cut off well-struck drives. Cover is positioned between point and mid-off on the off side — where most drives are aimed — making it one of the most important fielding positions. A fielder with good hands and reflexes at cover saves many boundaries per match. Point is 90 degrees to the pitch on the off side, at about 30 yards, cutting off square cuts.
Frequently asked questions
What is slip in cricket?
Slip is a close-catching position behind and to the off side of the batsman, positioned to catch deflections from the bat's edge. First slip is positioned closest to the wicketkeeper; second and third slips fan out further from the stumps. The slip cordon is the primary catching area for pace bowling — most edges in Test cricket are caught at slip. Teams set multiple slips when a new batsman arrives or when playing on helpful seam conditions.
What is the difference between cover and extra cover in cricket?
Cover is positioned between point and mid-off on the off side, roughly 30-35 yards from the batsman, cutting off straight drives and half-volleys hit through the off side. Extra cover is positioned slightly wider and closer to long-off. Both positions target the corridor between point and mid-off that batsmen typically drive through. Cover requires exceptional speed and agility — it is one of the most demanding fielding positions in the game.