The Slip Cordon: Positions, Coordination and Catching
The slip cordon is cricket's most technical fielding unit. From first slip to leg slip, understand how positions are set, how catchers react, and what makes a great slip fielder.
Frequently asked questions
How many slip fielders does a team typically deploy?
Typically two to four in Test cricket during the new ball or on seaming surfaces. One or two slips is standard in the middle overs when swing and seam movement reduces, and no slips may be deployed in the final overs of a Test when batting teams are seeking quick runs. In T20 cricket, slip fielders are rarely used after the powerplay due to fielding restriction rules.
What is leg slip and when is it used?
Leg slip is a fielder positioned behind square on the leg side, equivalent to first slip but on the other side of the wicketkeeper. It is deployed specifically when a bowler is targeting the batsman's body with a strategy of forcing leg-side edges or fending shots. Shane Warne occasionally set a leg slip when bowling leg-spin that curved sharply into right-handers — a ball that turned back slightly after landing could pop a bat-pad catch to that position.