Gully in Cricket — The Fielding Position Explained
Gully is a fielding position on the off side between point and the slips, typically used to catch thick outside edges. Learn where gully stands, when captains position a fielder there, and the key difference between gully and the slip cordon.
Gully is a fielding position on the off side, standing squarer than the slip fielders (i.e., more at right angles to the batting crease) and wider than first slip. A gully fielder typically stands about 6–10 metres from the bat, positioned to catch edges that go thicker (wider) than the slip cordon can reach, particularly from cut shots or late defensive pushes on the off side. The name 'gully' comes from the idea of a narrow channel between point and the slips.
Where gully stands
Imagine standing behind the stumps and looking down the pitch: the slips stand behind and to the off side, progressively further away from the stumps. Gully stands squarer than the slips — roughly at a 90-degree angle to the pitch — and farther from the bat than point. Against a right-handed batsman, gully covers the square-to-slightly-behind-square zone on the off side at catching height. Against a left-handed batsman, gully's position shifts to the equivalent position on what is now the off side for that batsman.
When gully is used
Gully is most commonly placed against pace bowling on pitches that offer sideways movement, or when the bowler is targeting the outside edge. When the ball is moving away from right-handers (outswing, off-cutter), the edge is likely to travel square or finer — a slip cordon catches fine edges; gully covers thicker edges that beat the slip cordon. Gully is also used against the cut shot: when a fast bowler serves a short delivery outside off stump, any top-edge off a cut shot is likely to go to gully rather than the slips.
Gully vs slip: the key difference
The slips are positioned finer — closer to the line directly behind the bowler, receiving thinner edges that deflect at a narrow angle off the bat. Gully is squarer, positioned to catch edges that deflect at a wider angle. The two positions complement each other: together they cover the arc from fine (slips) to square (gully) on the off side. In a full slip cordon, a captain might have first, second, and third slip plus gully — covering most possible off-side edges from slow to thick.
Frequently asked questions
Can there be two gullies?
Yes, and some captains deploy a second gully (called a 'backward point' or 'second gully') slightly deeper or wider than the first when a batsman is cutting hard. This is more common in Test cricket on seaming wickets where thick cuts are frequent, or when a specific batsman is known to hit across the line into the off-side area.
Is gully ever used in T20 cricket?
Rarely in the middle overs and death, when attacking field placements mean close-in catchers are replaced by boundary riders. However, in the Powerplay overs (1–6) where only two fielders may be outside the 30-yard circle, gully is sometimes used alongside two slips to attack the outside edge during the initial swing bowling spell.
What skill does a good gully fielder need?
Fast reactions and the ability to move laterally at low height. Edges to gully often arrive quickly and at knee-to-waist height, requiring the fielder to dive or drop low. Unlike slips, who mostly catch at chest or stomach height, gully catchers frequently need to move to their right or left — good footwork and low hands are essential.