Cricket Fielding Positions — Complete Guide
A complete guide to all cricket fielding positions — where each is located, what they are called, and what types of shots they are designed to stop.
A cricket field has no fixed positions — the captain can place the nine non-bowling, non-wicketkeeping fielders anywhere within the field boundary. However, cricket has developed a rich vocabulary of named positions that indicate where fielders should stand. Understanding these names and locations helps make sense of field placements and commentary.
The Two Sides of the Field
The field is divided by an imaginary line from wicket to wicket. The 'off side' is to the right of a right-handed batter facing the bowler (the side their bat face points when playing a straight shot). The 'leg side' (or 'on side') is to the left of the right-handed batter. Positions are named relative to this — 'mid-off' is on the off side, 'mid-on' is on the leg side.
Common Fielding Positions
| Position | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Slip (1st, 2nd, 3rd) | Off side, behind the batter | Catches edges going away from the batter |
| Gully | Off side, square to the batter, behind | Catches edged cut shots |
| Point | Off side, square to the batter, in front | Stops cut shots along the ground |
| Cover | Off side, forward of point | Stops cover drives and cuts |
| Extra cover | Off side, forward and closer to straight | Stops straight/extra cover drives |
| Mid-off | Off side, near-straight, close to bowler | Stops straight drives on the off side |
| Mid-on | Leg side, near-straight, close to bowler | Stops straight drives on the leg side |
| Mid-wicket | Leg side, roughly square | Stops pull shots and on drives |
| Square leg | Leg side, square to the batter | Stops pulls and sweeps |
| Fine leg | Leg side, behind the wicket | Stops fine glances, leg byes, deflections |
| Third man | Off side, behind the wicket | Stops edges that go past the keeper to the off-side boundary |
| Long-on | Leg side, deep, near-straight | Stops lofted straight drives in T20 |
| Long-off | Off side, deep, near-straight | Stops lofted straight shots |
| Deep mid-wicket | Leg side, deep | Stops slog sweeps and pulls in T20 |
| Cow corner | Between long-on and deep mid-wicket | Stops slog sweeps in T20 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'cordon' in cricket?
The cordon (or 'slip cordon') is the collection of slip fielders standing in an arc to the off side behind the batter. A full Test match cordon might have first, second, third slip and gully — four fielders catching edges. In Test cricket against new-ball pace bowlers, a 3-slip + gully cordon is standard. In T20 cricket, only one or two slips are used (or none at all) because attacking off-side fielders are prioritised.