Taking Guard in Cricket — Middle, Leg & Off Explained
When a new batsman comes to the crease, they take guard by asking the umpire to align their bat with a specific stump. Learn what middle, leg, and two-guard mean, why guard matters, and how different batsmen use it.
Taking guard is the ritual a new batsman performs at the crease before facing their first ball. By asking the umpire to align their bat with a particular stump, they establish exactly where their feet and bat are in relation to the stumps — creating a mental map they can refer to throughout their innings without needing to look down. The umpire at the bowling end (not the striker's end) gives the guard signal.
The three common guards
| Guard name | Also called | What it marks |
|---|---|---|
| Middle | Centre | The centre stump — bat aligned directly behind middle stump |
| Leg | One leg | The leg stump — bat aligned behind leg stump |
| Two (Middle-and-leg) | Middle and leg | The gap between middle and leg stump |
After the batsman places their bat on the crease and holds it vertical, the umpire at the non-striker's end looks down the pitch and signals: a single finger pointing up means move one stump to the off side; a horizontal finger drawn inward means move to leg; palms pressed together means 'you have it' (guard confirmed).
Why guard matters
Guard gives the batsman a reference point for where they are in relation to the stumps without looking at the ground. A batsman on middle-stump guard knows that a ball pitching on middle stump will hit them on a straight line. A batsman on leg guard is standing slightly outside leg stump and knows they need to cover the off side without being too exposed. The guard also sets the line from which the batsman judges LBW risk: a batsman on middle guard who gets hit outside the line of off stump cannot be out LBW (if they are playing a shot).
Personal preference and match situation
Most Test batsmen traditionally use middle or two (middle-and-leg). Batsmen who play a lot of leg-side shots sometimes prefer leg guard to give themselves more room to hit through the on side. Modern T20 batsmen occasionally use no guard at all, or take an off-stump guard to create width for cut shots and off-side play. Some batsmen change guard during an innings if the bowler is repeatedly targeting their stumps from a particular angle.
Frequently asked questions
Who gives the guard — the square-leg umpire or the bowler's end umpire?
The umpire at the bowler's end (the non-striker's end from the batsman's perspective) gives the guard. They are positioned directly behind the stumps and can look down the pitch to align the bat with the correct stump.
Can a batsman change their guard during an innings?
Yes. A batsman can ask for a new guard at any time — after a drinks break, at the start of a new over, or whenever they feel their positioning has shifted. There is no restriction on how many times guard can be changed.
Does guard affect LBW decisions?
Guard affects where the batsman stands, which affects their LBW risk. A batsman on middle guard who is struck in line with leg stump has moved off their guard reference point. More importantly for LBW law, the ruling is about where impact occurs relative to the stumps, not where the batsman's guard was — but a well-chosen guard helps a batsman know when they are vulnerable.