Close Catching Fielding Positions: Slip, Gully, Silly Mid-On, Short Leg
Close catching fielding positions are placed within approximately 15 metres of the batsman to catch deflections off the bat edge or body. The slip cordon (first slip, second slip, third slip, gully) catches outside edges; silly mid-on and silly mid-off catch inside edges; short leg catches deflections off the pads. These positions require specialist skills — fast reactions, safe hands, and courage to stand close to a batsman hitting full-pace deliveries.
Close catching positions overview: close catching positions are used when the bowling captain expects the batsman to edge the ball — typically when a quality pace or spin bowler is attacking with the new ball or on a turning surface. These positions sacrifice boundary protection (the close fielder cannot stop a ball from reaching the boundary if they are positioned 5 metres from the bat) in exchange for catching opportunities. In Test cricket, close catching positions are essential — the primary mode of dismissal is caught (approximately 55-60% of all Test wickets fall to catches), and many of these catches come from close fielders.
Slip Cordon
The slip cordon: slips are positioned in a line behind the batsman on the off side, angled to catch outside edges. First slip stands closest to the wicketkeeper; second slip next; third slip beyond that; fourth slip (rare) further still. The distance from the stumps increases with each slip position — first slip might be 5-6 metres from the stumps; fourth slip might be 12-15 metres. The angle of each slip position is set to cover the range of deflection directions from an outside edge — outside edges can travel anywhere from directly toward wicketkeeper to fine third man, and the slip cordon attempts to cover the most likely range. Gully stands squarer than the slips (more perpendicular to the batsman's line), covering deflections from cut shots or edges that go squarer.
Short Leg and Silly Mid-On
Short leg and silly positions: short leg is positioned very close to the batsman on the leg side (approximately 3-5 metres), catching deflections off the bat-pad area when spin bowlers are bowling at the leg stump. The 'bat-pad' catch — where the ball hits the bat and then deflects onto the pad or vice versa — goes to short leg when the batsman plays a defensive shot that is not clean (the ball loops up gently rather than traveling fast). Silly mid-on and silly mid-off are positioned very close to the batsman on the leg and off sides respectively — these positions catch inside edges from defensive shots or push-drives where the ball deflects toward the on side. Close fielders in these positions wear helmets and padding because the ball can arrive at extremely high speed if the batsman drives through the shot.
Courage and Safety
Safety of close fielders: fielding in close catching positions is genuinely dangerous — a mis-hit, pull shot, or powerful drive toward a close fielder can result in serious injury. Close fielders now universally wear helmets in professional cricket at distances of less than 10 metres from the bat. Even with helmets, close fielders have been hit by the ball: in 2018, Australian fielder Phillip Hughes was hit in the head by a delivery while batting (in a different context), but close fielders at short leg and silly mid-on stand in positions where a similar impact is possible. The positioning of close fielders requires the fielding captain to balance the potential benefit (a catch) against the risk (injury). On flat pitches where batsmen are playing confidently, captains typically reduce or remove close catching positions — the injury risk outweighs the catch probability.
Frequently asked questions
What is a slip in cricket fielding?
A slip in cricket fielding is a close catching position placed behind the batsman on the off side, angled to catch outside edges from the bat. When the bowler bowls a delivery outside the off stump and the batsman edges it toward the off side behind their body, a slip fielder is positioned to catch the deflection. The 'slip cordon' consists of up to 4 fielders in a line (first slip closest to the wicketkeeper, second slip, third slip, and sometimes fourth slip), each covering a slightly different range of deflection angles. The number of slips used depends on the bowling conditions — new ball swinging in England or New Zealand might see 3-4 slips; a flat batting pitch in India might see 1 slip or none. Slip fielding is a specialist skill requiring fast reactions and safe hands.
What is a gully in cricket?
A gully in cricket is a close catching fielding position placed behind the batsman on the off side, but squarer than the slips — roughly 45-60 degrees from the batsman's body (compared to the slips which are approximately 30-45 degrees). Gully is positioned to catch deflections from cut shots (where the batsman plays the ball squarer than a slip catch would reach) and edges from deliveries that the batsman plays squarely. On spin-friendly pitches where the batsman is attempting to cut deliveries from off-spinners, gully is a common catching position. The name 'gully' derives from its position in the gap between slip and point — historically, this region of the field was called the gully because of its comparatively narrow coverage zone.
What is short leg in cricket?
Short leg in cricket is a close catching fielding position placed very near the batsman on the leg side — approximately 3-5 metres from the bat, positioned in line with leg stump or just behind square. Short leg is used primarily against spin bowlers who are targeting the leg stump line — the position catches 'bat-pad' chances (where the ball clips the bat edge and deflects onto the pad, or clips the pad and deflects toward the leg side). When a batsman plays a defensive forward shot against a spinning delivery, the ball can loop gently off the inside edge or off the pad into short leg's catching zone. Short leg fielders must wear a helmet because the position is very close to the batsman and a mis-hit drive or sweep could hit them at high speed. Jonty Rhodes and Luke Ronchi were considered exceptional short leg fielders.