Cricket Fielding Positions: Complete Guide to Every Position on the Field
Cricket has over 20 named fielding positions — from slip to fine leg to mid-wicket. This guide explains every major fielding position, where they stand relative to the batsman, and what shots they are designed to catch or stop.
Cricket's fielding positions have evolved over 200 years into a system of named locations that communicate precise field placements between captain and fielders. Unlike football where positions are general roles, cricket positions describe exact locations relative to the batting crease: in front of or behind the wicket, on the leg side or off side, close to the bat or on the boundary. A captain saying 'cover point, mid-on, two slips, gully' has positioned four fielders with precise instructions that every cricketer understands instantly.
Off-Side Positions
On the off side (to the right of a right-handed batsman): slip cordon (1st slip, 2nd slip, 3rd slip — positioned close behind the wicket in a diagonal line to catch edges), gully (between slip and point, squarer), point (square of the wicket, about 30-40 yards), cover point (between point and mid-off, slightly wider), extra cover (between cover point and mid-off, more forward), mid-off (straight, inside the 30-yard circle on the off side), and long-off (on the boundary, behind mid-off). Third man covers the fine off-side area behind the wicketkeeper.
Leg-Side Positions
On the leg side (to the left of a right-handed batsman): fine leg (behind square on the leg side, on or near the boundary — the most common defensive position for pace bowling), backward square leg (square and behind), square leg (exactly square), mid-wicket (inside the 30-yard circle, forward on the leg side), mid-on (straight on the leg side, inside the circle), and long-on (boundary, behind mid-on). The leg side positions typically defend against leg-side shots — pulls, hooks, and sweeps.
Close-In Positions
Close-in positions (fielders near the batsman): silly mid-on, silly mid-off, short leg, leg slip, and forward short leg are all positioned very close to the batsman — within 10-15 yards. These positions are used when the captain expects catches from bat-pad (ball clipping the bat edge and popping to a close fielder). They require great courage — particularly short leg and forward short leg, who face the risk of being hit by the ball. Fielders in these positions typically wear helmets and additional protective equipment.
Frequently asked questions
How many fielding positions are there in cricket?
Cricket has over 30 named fielding positions, though not all can be occupied simultaneously — only 9 fielders (excluding bowler and wicketkeeper) can be on the field at any time. Common positions include slip, gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, mid-wicket, square leg, and fine leg.
What is the difference between slip and gully?
Both slip and gully are positioned on the off side behind square, but slip fielders stand in a diagonal line directly behind the wicketkeeper to catch inside or outside edges. Gully is positioned squarer (more towards square leg) and catches cuts and deflections from wider edges and glances.
Where does fine leg stand?
Fine leg stands on the leg side (to the left of a right-handed batsman) behind the square, typically on or near the boundary. Fine leg covers deflections off the pad or inside edges that go fine on the leg side, and also stops pull shots that are angled fine.