Short Mid-On and Short Mid-Off: The Bat-Pad Catching Positions
The short mid-on and short mid-off fielding positions — close-in catchers placed on either side of the bowler to catch forward defensive push deflections. When captains place these positions, the specific dismissal pattern they target (bat deflecting off pad into the close-in fielder), the physical risk for fielders in these positions, and how the combination of silly-mid-on and short mid-on creates a close-catching ring for spin bowling on a turning pitch.
What Short Mid-On and Short Mid-Off Target
Short mid-on is positioned close in on the leg side — forward of square, approximately 8-12 metres from the bat, between mid-on and silly mid-on. Short mid-off mirrors this position on the off side. Both positions specifically target the forward defensive push where the ball deflects off the bat's face (or bat and pad combination) and pops up slowly into the close-in area. A batsman playing a forward defensive shot against a spinning ball that turns more than expected may get a gentle deflection that neither reaches the boundary nor rolls harmlessly to a mid-on positioned at normal depth — it falls between the infield and boundary positions, exactly where short mid-on or short mid-off stands.
When These Positions Are Used
Short mid-on and short mid-off are placed primarily when spin bowling is dominant on a pitch that is turning significantly. A batsman who is being pushed back onto the back foot by spin and forced to play defensively is generating the type of deflections these positions target. Captains use the positions when: the pitch is providing significant turn (ball deflecting off the edge or face toward these positions), the batsman is clearly struggling (playing defensively with minimal foot movement), and the bowling team wants to maximise catching pressure without moving all fielders to slip and gully. The positions also serve as scoring deterrents — a batsman who sees two close fielders near mid-on and mid-off is less willing to play the on-drive or straight drive.
Physical Risk and Reflexes Required
Short mid-on and short mid-off are less physically exposed than silly mid-on or short-leg (which are closer to the bat and face direct hit risk from powerful shots) but still require quick reflexes — the ball pops up suddenly with little warning, and the fielder must react to a catch rather than track a ball in flight. Helmet requirements at these positions depend on the specific tournament's regulations — ICC typically does not require helmets at short mid-on in international cricket (unlike silly mid-on, where helmets are standard), but individual boards may impose requirements. Fielders at these positions are typically selected for their catching reflexes and comfort in the close-in environment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between short mid-on and silly mid-on?
Short mid-on is approximately 8-12 metres from the bat, positioned where a soft bat-pad deflection might carry on the full. Silly mid-on is much closer — typically 3-6 metres from the bat — positioned to catch balls that pop almost immediately off the bat and pad within a very short distance. Silly mid-on is one of cricket's most physically exposed positions (within range of a powerful defensive shot hit directly back), while short mid-on is somewhat less exposed (at a distance where a hard-hit ball can be avoided or the reaction time is marginally better). Helmets are standard and mandatory for silly mid-on at international level; they are used but sometimes optional for short mid-on. Both positions target different ranges of the same bat-pad deflection zone.
Can a batsman specifically try to hit the close-in fielders?
Deliberately hitting the ball at a fielder to obstruct or injure is illegal under the Laws (obstruction of the field). However, playing a shot that naturally sends the ball toward a close-in fielder as part of a legitimate cricket stroke is legal — and is sometimes used tactically. If a batsman plays an on-drive and the ball strikes short mid-on because that's where the drive naturally goes, the batsman has done nothing wrong. Batsmen who are irritated by aggressive close-in fielding sometimes play the on-drive more freely specifically to put the fielder in a difficult position — receiving a powerful shot they chose to stand close enough to intercept. This is within the game's spirit; deliberately throwing the bat at a fielder to injure them is not.
When does a captain remove short mid-on during a match?
Short mid-on is typically removed when: the batsman begins playing aggressively through the on side (dangerous balls being hit powerfully make the position untenable), the pitch flattens out and deflections from the bat no longer pop up in the right zone (the catches stop happening), the bowling plan changes from spin to pace (the position is primarily useful for spin), or the captain needs a boundary fielder more than a close catcher (trade-off between catching ring and boundary protection). The decision to collapse the close-catching field is a major tactical concession — it signals that the bowling team is accepting boundary protection over wicket-taking via close catches.