Silly Point and Short Leg: Cricket's Most Dangerous Fielding Positions
Where silly point and short leg are positioned in cricket — the extremely close-in fielding positions just a few metres from the batsman, why fielders stand in these dangerous positions, what protective equipment is worn, the specific match situations where these positions are used (primarily spin bowling and when a batsman is pad-playing), and the fielding skills required to catch bat-pad edges at close range.
Position Definitions
Silly point is positioned on the off side, approximately 3-6 metres from the batsman, square or slightly forward — directly in the line where a defensive push or bat-pad edge off an off-break would travel. Short leg is the equivalent position on the leg side, similarly 3-6 metres from the batsman, positioned where a bat-pad catch or a deflection off the pads would go. Both positions are uniquely dangerous because they are within the batsman's natural hitting arc: any false stroke could send the ball into the fielder at full pace (80-100km/h off the bat from close range). Fielders in these positions wear helmets, shin guards, chest guards, and thigh pads as standard protective equipment — a ball from a defensive push at close range arrives in 0.06-0.08 seconds from bat to fielder.
When These Positions Are Used
Silly point and short leg are used in specific tactical situations: spinner bowling on a turning pitch with the batsman playing defensively. When a batsman is in a survival mode against a turning ball (defending everything, playing 'bat-pad'), they present the face of the bat close to the pad with the bat angled defensively. A delivery that turns sharply will touch both the bat and pad simultaneously — a bat-pad edge — and loop up to either short leg (on leg side) or silly point (on off side). The attacking captain positions fielders at silly point and short leg specifically to catch these bat-pad edges. The trap is set: to avoid the bat-pad edge, the batsman must use their feet and play more positively (going further down the pitch to smother the spin) — but more positive play increases the risk of a clean edge to the slip fielder instead.
Skills Required
Catching at silly point and short leg requires the fastest reflexes of any position in cricket. The ball arrives within 0.1 seconds of the bat — there is no time for conscious processing and decision-making, only pre-programmed reaction. Fielders in these positions typically have above-average fast-twitch reflex capability and specific training in close-catching reactions. The 'set position' — crouched, weight on the balls of the feet, hands slightly in front of the body and below waist height — is critical for enabling the fastest possible reaction direction. The catch itself is often literally a reflexive stab: the hands reach in the direction the ball is going with the body moving later. Some of cricket's greatest fielders (for example, Jonty Rhodes at short leg, Derek Randall in England's 1977 side) have been specifically noted for their close-catching reflexes in these positions.
Frequently asked questions
Has anyone ever been seriously injured fielding at silly point or short leg?
Yes — before helmets became mandatory equipment for close-in fielders, several cricketers were seriously injured by balls struck at close range. Ewen Chatfield (New Zealand) was struck in the head by a ball while fielding at short leg in 1975 and briefly lost consciousness. Roger Davis (Glamorgan) was struck at short leg in 1971 and required hospital treatment. The introduction of helmets for close-in fielders (first used in the late 1970s, now mandatory) significantly reduced head injuries but ankle, shin, and hand injuries still occur regularly. Modern chest guards and shin pads have further reduced injury rates — a well-equipped silly point fielder in 2025 is much safer than an unprotected fielder in 1975, though the position remains the most physically hazardous on the field.
Who decides which player fields at silly point or short leg?
The captain decides field placements, including close-catching positions. However, unlike most positions, silly point and short leg often require a willing volunteer — captains typically ask rather than tell players to stand in these positions, given the genuine physical risk involved. Players who have quick reflexes and feel comfortable in close-catching situations usually self-select for these roles across their career. Specialist close-catchers develop a reputation for these positions — in most Test teams, one or two players are the designated close catchers who will take silly point and short leg when the situation demands it. Players who are uncomfortable or unusually tall (and therefore present a larger target to the batsman) may be asked to field elsewhere.
Is silly point used in limited-overs cricket?
Silly point and short leg appear occasionally in limited-overs cricket but far less frequently than in Tests. In T20 and ODI cricket, batsmen are required to score aggressively, which means they play more attacking shots — placing a fielder in a position that could be hit for 6 is high risk. The conditions where close catchers make sense (a turning, slow pitch where batsmen are pad-playing) are less common in limited-overs cricket because pitches are typically prepared for stroke play. Silly point appears in ODI cricket occasionally on subcontinental spin-friendly pitches, and in the middle overs when aggressive batting would be counterproductive and a survival approach is imposed. In T20 cricket, silly point is extremely rare.