Gully in Cricket — Where It Is, What It Does & Why It Matters
Gully is a fielding position on the off side, stationed wider and squarer than slip. Learn where gully stands, what catches it takes, and how captains use it tactically.
Gully is a fielding position on the off side, positioned squarer than slip (closer to the point region) and wider than the slip cordon. A gully fielder typically stands about 10–15 metres from the batter, angled to catch thick edges on the cut shot or mistimed drives that fly squarely off the bat.
Where exactly does gully stand?
Gully sits between first slip and point — it is wider than the slips (which stand behind the bat line, catching thin edges) and backward of point (which catches drives hit squarely). Imagine the slip cordon as a line reaching from behind the wicket: gully is where that line ends before the point region begins. Captains adjust gully's exact position based on the batter's tendencies — a confirmed cutter gets a squarer gully; a driver who hangs his bat gets a straighter one.
When is gully used?
- Seam bowling with an attacking field: gully is often part of the slip cordon attack alongside first and second slip.
- When the batter plays a lot of cut shots — gully takes the top edge or outside edge from the cut.
- On pitches with pace and bounce where thick outside edges fly squarely rather than behind.
- Rarely used in flat, spin-friendly conditions or when a batter is on a hundred with the game safe.
Frequently asked questions
Where does gully stand in cricket?
Gully stands on the off side, wider than the slips and squarer than point — roughly at a 45-degree angle from the batter on the off side. The exact position varies depending on the batter's tendency to cut or drive.
What catches does gully take in cricket?
Gully primarily takes thick outside edges on cut shots, or edges from drives aimed through the covers that travel squarely off the bat. It also takes top-edge catches when a batter mistimes an attempted cut.