Leg Slip Fielding in Cricket Explained
What leg slip is, when it is positioned, and the high-risk catching role it plays on the leg side behind the wicket.
Where Is Leg Slip?
Leg slip stands close behind the batting crease on the leg side — roughly in the same depth zone as the wicketkeeper but positioned about 1–3 metres to the leg side of the keeper. It mirrors first slip on the off side but catches deflections from inside edges, glances off the pad, and balls that deviate onto the leg side after pitching. It is a close catching position and occupies one of the most physically challenging spots in the field.
When Is Leg Slip Used?
- Pace bowling on a pitch with lateral movement off the seam onto leg stump
- Inswing bowling when the ball is expected to hit the pad or glove and deflect behind square leg
- Reverse-swing deliveries attacking the batter's hips
- When a batter is playing and missing a lot on the leg side — a sign the ball is moving late
The Danger of Fielding at Leg Slip
Balls arriving at leg slip have already deflected once — off the pad, glove, or inner edge — which means the trajectory can be unpredictable and the speed is often still 100+ km/h. The fielder is positioned behind and slightly to the side of the batter, with the bat between them and the oncoming ball, leaving very limited sightlines and reaction time. Helmets are mandatory for leg slips in all professional cricket.
Leg Slip vs Square Leg
Square leg stands 15–20 metres from the bat on the leg side at the same level as the batting crease — it is a mid-range run-saving position. Leg slip stands just 2–5 metres from the bat, in the close catching zone, and is set specifically for deflections off the bat or pad. They cover completely different types of ball and different zones: leg slip is behind, square leg is squarely level.
Frequently asked questions
Does leg slip appear in T20 cricket?
Rarely. The close fielding restriction limits which positions are used inside the ring during the power-play, and the format's aggressive batting makes leg slip an unusual choice. It appears occasionally for death-over yorker merchants who generate inner-edge deflections.
Who are notable leg-slip catchers in Test history?
Close catchers who regularly stood at leg slip include Ian Botham, Mark Taylor, and various wicketkeepers who occasionally positioned a teammate in the zone. No single player is synonymous with leg slip the way Dravid is with first slip.
Can a catch at leg slip be credited to the wicketkeeper?
No — the keeper is positioned separately. If the deflection carries to the keeper, it is a 'caught behind.' If it carries to leg slip, the credit goes to the leg-slip fielder.