Third Man in Cricket Explained — Fielding Position, Purpose & When It's Used
Third man is a fielding position at deep fine leg behind the batter on the off side. Learn where third man stands, what shots it covers, and when captains post a deep third man vs a catching slip.
Third man is a deep fielding position on the off side, behind square and close to the boundary, positioned to stop runs from fine edges and glances on the off side. For a right-handed batter, third man is behind the slip cordon, angled down toward fine leg on the opposite side of the pitch. It is one of the most frequently used deep fielding positions in all formats of cricket.
Where third man stands
Third man stands roughly 30–40 metres behind the wicketkeeper on the off side, positioned in the arc between backward point and fine leg. The exact position is adjusted depending on the batter and the delivery type expected. A captain may position third man finer (closer to fine leg) against a batter who regularly glances edges down to third man, or wider (closer to point) to protect against the cut shot.
What third man covers
Third man primarily protects against: (1) thin outside edges that evade the keeper and the slip cordon, (2) glances and steers off the face of the bat that go backward of point, and (3) deliberate ramp shots and lap shots played over or around the keeper. In T20 cricket, the ramp shot directly over the keeper — sending the ball to the third man boundary — is a specific shot played to exploit this fielding position.
Third man in T20 vs Test cricket
In Test cricket, third man is sometimes used instead of a slip when the captain prefers to stop boundary runs from thin edges. This is a defensive choice — a slip catches dismissals; third man stops fours. Captains often rotate between a catching slip and a saving third man depending on the match situation. In T20 cricket, a deep third man is almost always deployed in the later overs when batters are targeting the ramp and fine-edge shots.
Frequently asked questions
What is third man in cricket?
Third man is a deep fielding position behind square on the off side, positioned between backward point and fine leg. It stops runs from edges and glances that beat the keeper and slip cordon, and protects against ramp shots in T20 cricket.
When do captains post a third man?
Captains use third man when they want to save the boundary from thin edges or ramp shots rather than post a catching slip. In T20s, deep third man is almost always set in the death overs to counter the ramp and fine-edge shots over the keeper's head.
Where does the name 'third man' come from?
The name is historical and refers to a sequence of early fielding positions (first man, second man, third man) only one of which — third man — has survived in common use. The term has been in cricket's vocabulary for over a century.