Third Man in Cricket: The Off-Side Boundary Fielding Position
Third man is a deep off-side boundary position behind the batter. Learn where it stands, what shots it fields, and why it is critical for preventing edges and glances from going to the boundary.
Where Is Third Man?
Third man stands on the off-side boundary behind the batter, typically at a fine angle — between 120 and 150 degrees from the line of the pitch on the off side. It is the off-side equivalent of fine leg, positioned to stop or catch balls that go fine off the edge or a glance on the off side.
What Shots Does Third Man Field?
Third man fields fine edges off the outside edge that travel behind point toward the boundary, thick-edge glances off back-foot cuts, and reverse-sweep shots in limited-overs cricket that go behind the wicket on the off side.
Third Man in Limited-Overs Cricket
In T20 cricket, third man is placed on the boundary to prevent the reverse-sweep from going for six. Batters often target this region late in innings, deliberately playing the reverse sweep or ramp shot over third man or hitting through that gap when the position is vacant during the powerplay.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called 'third man'?
The name comes from historical fielding arrangements. As slips and gully were named first and second men along the off-side arc, the next position further fine was the 'third man'.
Is third man always on the boundary?
Third man is typically a boundary position in all formats. A 'short third man' (inside the circle) is occasionally used as a catching position when expecting fine edges off short deliveries.