Slip Cordon Height: Why Catching Position and Height Matter for Slips
The slip cordon catches edges from pace and swing bowling, but the height at which slips stand, their distance from the wicketkeeper, and their crouch position all affect what catches they can take. This article explains optimal slip catching position and why cordon height varies by bowler and pitch.
Why Slip Cordon Position Matters
The slip cordon (typically 1-4 fielders positioned behind the batsman on the off side) must be positioned to intercept edges from the bat at the correct height, speed, and angle: edges from fast pace bowling travel at high speed (close to the bowling speed — the ball retains significant velocity after deflecting from the bat edge) and reach the slip cordon low to the ground or at waist height; edges from spin bowling travel at much slower speed and may arrive high (from top-edge spins that go skyward) or at varying heights; and the specific pitch's delivery bounce affects where edges go — a low-bouncing pitch produces low edges (the ball deflects downward off the bat); a higher-bouncing pitch produces chest or shoulder-height edges. Slips must pre-position themselves for the specific combination of bowler type and pitch conditions they are facing.
The Optimal Slip Crouch Position
Expert fielders in the slip cordon use a specific pre-delivery stance designed to maximise catching reaction speed: weight balanced slightly forward on the balls of the feet (never on heels — heel-balance delays the reaction step); knees bent into a semi-crouch (lower centre of gravity allows faster lateral first step); hands held in front of the body at approximately waist height (the starting position for the hands reduces movement time — if the hands begin at the side, reaching them to waist height for a low edge takes additional time that the ball's speed doesn't allow); and eyes focused on the bat's edge at the moment of delivery rather than on the bowler or batsman's body (the edge is where the catching opportunity appears — fixating on it earlier provides faster reaction cues). The crouch's depth is a personal trade-off between stability (deeper crouch is more stable) and lateral mobility (shallower crouch allows faster lateral first movement).
Height Differences in the Slip Cordon
The slip cordon's height — the horizontal plane at which cordon fielders catch — changes based on conditions: for fast bowling on bouncy pitches (Perth, Johannesburg), slips position themselves slightly higher (waist-to-chest height starting position) because edges travel at a higher angle from the bat face; for swing bowling on English pitches (slower, lower bounce), slips position themselves lower (knee-to-waist height) because outswing edges go lower to the ground as the bat is angled toward the ground when playing defensive shots; and for spin bowling, the slip cordon (often just 1 slip) positions itself relatively high (the spin bowler's edge from a defensive shot often arrives at waist-to-shoulder height rather than ankle height). The first slip (closest to the keeper) typically catches the most edges — they are positioned for the highest-frequency edge trajectory from the specific bowler.
Frequently asked questions
How many slips are typically used in each format?
The number of slip fielders varies by format and match situation: in Test cricket, 3-5 slips is common in the first 20-30 overs with a new ball swinging (the high-wicket-probability phase justifies the maximum catching investment); as the ball softens and the bowling phase changes, the slip cordon reduces to 1-2 slips to add fielders in other positions; in ODI cricket, 2-3 slips in the first 10 overs (powerplay phase with the new ball) reducing to 1 slip in the middle overs and typically 0 slips in the death overs; and in T20 cricket, 2 slips in the first 6 overs (powerplay) reducing to 0-1 slips from over 7 onward (the boundary-protection imperative removes the slip fielder investment). The reduction of slip numbers across formats reflects the declining priority of edge catches as the match format shortens and boundary prevention becomes more important.
Who typically fields in the slip cordon for a Test team?
Test teams select specific players for the slip cordon based on catching ability rather than just fielding position rotation: the best catchers in the team are placed in slip positions because edges occur frequently (10-20 per innings typically) and missing one is a significant missed wicket opportunity; traditionally, specialist slip fielders include the most reliable catchers in the team — in Australian cricket, the first slip position was held by the captain (as Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, and Ricky Ponting all fielded at first slip); in some teams, former wicketkeepers field in slip positions (their hands-together catching technique transfers well from wicketkeeping to slip); and in modern cricket, the selection of slip fielders is partially data-driven — teams track each player's slip catching conversion rate (catches taken as a percentage of chances offered) to identify their best slip catchers.
What is the difference between first slip, second slip, and gully?
The three adjacent off-side catching positions differ in their angle from the wicketkeeper: first slip is positioned directly beside the wicketkeeper (closest to the keeper), at a slightly wider angle — they catch edges that travel toward the off side at a relatively straight angle from the bat; second slip is positioned wider than first slip — they catch edges that travel at a wider angle, or that first slip dives toward but cannot reach; gully is positioned much wider — approximately at a 45-degree angle between point and second slip — they catch the thicker edge (from a cross-bat shot like the cut) that travels at a wider angle than the slip cordon can cover. The three positions are adjacent but not interchangeable: the edge that beats first slip doesn't always reach second slip (it may go between them, requiring a diving catch from one), and the gully catch is a distinctly different trajectory from either slip catch.