Square Cover and Extra Cover: Two Positions, One Zone
The cover fielding area — the off-side zone between point (square) and mid-off (straight). How 'cover' and 'extra cover' differ in angle, why this zone is one of the most productive scoring areas for right-handed batsmen in all formats, how captains choose between one or two cover-area fielders, the specific shots (cover drive, square drive) that the cover fielders are positioned to stop, and how the powerplay restrictions limit cover-fielder options in limited-overs cricket.
The Cover Zone Defined
The cover area on the off side spans from approximately 45 degrees (mid-off direction) to 70-75 degrees (point direction) from the wicket line. 'Cover' or 'cover-point' sits in the middle of this range (approximately 60 degrees from straight) and is historically the most important single fielding position in cricket — positioned to cut off the cover drive, which is one of cricket's most common and effective scoring shots. 'Extra cover' sits slightly squarer than cover (approximately 50-55 degrees) — between cover and mid-off — and is used when the captain wants to cover both the straight drive and the cover drive zone. 'Square cover' is sometimes used for a fielder positioned even squarer than cover (toward point's 90-degree angle).
Cover Drive and the Fielder's Challenge
The cover drive is one of cricket's most productive shots — timed well, it travels quickly along the ground through the cover area to the boundary with minimal stopping opportunity for an infield fielder. A cover fielder must: position with a good view of the batsman's foot movement (predicting the cover drive early), move quickly in the right direction as the shot is played, dive if needed to intercept the ball before it reaches the boundary, and — critically — back up if a diving stop misses. The cover fielder who misses a diving stop with no backup behind them concedes a boundary from a ball that should have been saved. Captains always ensure the region behind cover is backed up by the nearest outfield fielder.
Two Cover Fielders vs One
In Test cricket and ODI cricket (non-powerplay), captains sometimes place both a cover and an extra cover — covering the entire 45-70 degree range on the off side with two fielders. This is done when: the batsman is driving freely through the cover area, the pitch is flat enough that cover drives are consistently reaching the boundary, or a specific batsman has a strong cover drive that the bowling plan aims to contain. In T20 cricket during non-powerplay overs, two cover-zone fielders are uncommon because the limited outfield fielding budget (5 fielders outside the ring) is typically distributed more evenly around the boundary. A second cover fielder means one fewer deep fielder elsewhere — the captain balances this trade-off based on the batsman's specific scoring zone data.
Frequently asked questions
Which shots are specifically targeted by the cover fielder?
The cover fielder is specifically positioned for: the cover drive (a front-foot drive through the 60-70 degree zone on the off side), the pushed single through cover (a deflected push to the off side that the batsman runs a single from), and sometimes the square drive (a drive played squarer than cover, typically off a wider delivery). The cover fielder is not typically positioned for the cut shot (which goes behind square to point) or the straight drive (which goes over or near mid-off). If a specific batsman plays the cover drive powerfully and frequently, the cover fielder's depth adjusts — closer in to save singles (when the batting team is not threatening the boundary through cover), deeper to save fours (when the boundary threat is real).
Is cover the same as 'silly cover'?
No — 'silly cover' is a close-catching position, very close to the bat (within 5 metres) on the off side, positioned to catch from edge-and-pad combinations or close drives. Normal cover is 15-25+ metres from the bat. Silly cover is extremely rare in professional cricket — the physical risk is significant (a ball hit hard directly at a fielder that close is a serious injury risk), and the catching opportunity is very limited to specific batsmen playing defensive strokes that produce close deflections. Silly point (off side) and short mid-off are more commonly used close-in off-side positions. 'Silly' fielding positions as a category are placed specifically for batsmen in defensive mode where close-in catches are the primary opportunity.
Does cover shift position for left-handed batsmen?
Yes — for a left-handed batsman, what is the off side switches relative to the field. A left-handed batsman's cover area is on the right side of the pitch from the bowler's perspective (the opposite of a right-hander's cover). The fielding captain repositions the off-side and leg-side fielders entirely when a left-handed batsman comes in. The specific cover depth and angle for a left-hander depends on their individual shot tendencies — a left-hander who drives strongly through the covers may need a deeper cover; one who is primarily a leg-side player may have cover positioned more as a singles-saver than a boundary-protector. The position name stays the same (cover is still called cover for left-handers), but its physical location moves to the opposite side of the pitch.