Third Man Fielding: Position, Purpose, and Who Goes There
The third man position is one of cricket's most specific fielding placements — behind the wicket on the off side, deep near the boundary. This article explains where third man stands, why the position exists (backing up edges and cuts), what type of fielder is placed there, and how the third man position changes across different match formats and bowling types.
Where Third Man Stands
Third man is positioned behind the wicket on the off side, approximately 30-45 metres from the batsman, usually near the boundary rope. The exact position varies: a 'fine third man' stands closer to behind the wicket (almost in line with the wickets), designed to cut off edged shots that travel at fine angles toward the boundary; a 'square third man' stands wider (approximately 30-40 degrees from behind the wicket), positioned for thicker edges and cut shots that travel squarer. The position's name comes from the historical arrangement of fielders — historically, the positions behind point (second slip, gully, point) were named in sequence, with 'third man' referring to the third person behind the wicket in this off-side grouping.
Why Third Man Exists
Third man protects against: outside-edge deliveries that beat the wicketkeeper's dive (common off quick bowling at pace — the keeper dives but doesn't reach a thick edge, and the ball runs toward the fine-leg boundary area on the off side); the late cut shot (a deliberate batting stroke played very late on the ball past point toward the fine area behind square); and overthrows or misfields near the off-side boundary. In Test cricket, third man is a defensive position — placed there when runs need to be saved. The captain typically brings third man in (moves them closer) when a wicket needs to be taken and moves them back (deeper) when protecting a lead.
Who Is Placed at Third Man
Third man is traditionally positioned as a 'rest' position for fielders with limited mobility — it is often where a bowler rests between their overs, or where a senior player with slower movement is placed to minimise the running demands. However, in modern T20 cricket where boundaries are often crossed by accurate late cuts, third man requires a fast, accurate thrower who can cut off seemingly certain boundaries with pace and dive. The contradiction: third man is both the traditional rest position (low activity frequency) and — when activity is required — one of the most athletically demanding positions (full-sprint boundary runs, diving stops, long accurate throws to the keeper). Modern captains assess the bowling type: when an outswing bowler is operating, third man on the off side is more active (more edges); when an inswing bowler operates, fine leg on the leg side is more active.
Frequently asked questions
Is third man inside or outside the fielding circle?
Third man is outside the fielding circle (30-yard circle) — it is a deep boundary position. In limited-overs cricket, fielding restrictions limit how many fielders can be outside the circle: in T20 cricket, a maximum of 5 players outside the circle after the powerplay, with only 2 allowed outside during the powerplay. Third man, being a boundary position, is one of the 5 positions outside the circle during normal play. During the powerplay, the captain must choose which 2 deep positions to maintain — third man is one of the candidates, kept if edges are frequent, swapped for a finer leg side position if the bowling is creating more leg-side action.
Should third man stand on the boundary rope or inside?
Third man typically stands just inside the boundary rope (1-2 metres inside) rather than directly on the rope. The reason: a fielder standing exactly on the boundary rope risks crossing the boundary while making a catch — which would count as 6 runs rather than a dismissal. Standing inside provides reaction space to move back and catch the ball before it reaches the rope, while still being positioned to prevent boundary 4s from angled edges. The exact depth adjusts with the shot: after a batsman hits several four through the fine-edge area, the captain may bring third man closer to the boundary rope to ensure the position covers the full off-side edge zone rather than letting the ball roll under their dive.
How often does the ball actually reach third man?
Third man is a relatively low-activity position — the ball reaches there perhaps 5-10 times in a typical 50-over innings, and fewer in Tests where batting is more conservative and edges don't always carry at pace. The activity spikes when: an outswing bowler is operating (thick edges), a batsman is deliberately cutting (late-cut specialists like AB de Villiers), or in the final overs of a T20 when batsmen are playing late, unconventional shots. Between these active moments, third man may field for 20-30 overs without touching the ball. The mental challenge for a third man fielder is maintaining concentration through long periods of inactivity so that when the ball does arrive — often at full pace from an edge — the response is immediate and accurate.