Gully Fielding Position in Cricket Explained

Where Is Gully?

Gully stands on the off side, between point (which is square of the wicket) and the slips (which are behind the batter). It occupies roughly a 45°–60° angle behind square, 10–18 metres from the bat. The name is believed to derive from the Hindi word for 'lane' or 'alley,' describing the narrow channel it covers between the slip cordon and square point.

What Gully Fields

• Thick outside edges from cut shots that fly behind square
• Slashed or chopped drives off short-pitched balls
• Top edges off hooks when the ball skews toward the off side
• Deflections off the bat toe or inner edge that travel at unexpected angles

Why Gully Is Dangerous

Balls arriving at gully can reach 130–140 km/h after an edge off a fast bowler. The angle — somewhere between square and the slips — means the fielder must react in under 0.3 seconds. Gully fielders wear helmets in many professional matches and must maintain outstanding concentration because long periods can pass without a ball arriving, then a ferocious edge arrives in an instant.

Gully in Different Conditions

On seaming or swinging pitches, gully is deployed frequently — the bowler is attacking the outside edge and the captain wants to collect the catch. On flat, dry pitches the position becomes less useful and may be removed entirely for boundary saving. In T20 cricket, a wide gully or backward point is sometimes deployed to catch switch-hit shots that travel at unusual angles behind square.

Gully vs Slip vs Point

Point is square — at 90° — and faces the batter full on. Slips are behind the line of the bat. Gully is in between, angled about 45°–60° behind square, making it the zone that catches edges too wide and too high for the slips but not square enough for point. The three positions together form a catching umbrella on the off side behind the batter.