Cricket Fielding Positions Explained: Slip, Gully, Point, Cover, Mid-Wicket and More

Cricket fielding positions have unusual names, and commentators use them constantly. Knowing them makes it much easier to understand why a captain places a fielder in a certain spot and how bowlers plan their overs. Here is a guide to the main positions, described for a right-handed batter. For a left-hander, the off and leg sides swap. Follow field changes in live matches on our cricket page.

The basics: off side and leg side

The pitch splits the field into two halves. The off side is the side the batter faces, which for a right-hander is the right side when you look from behind the bowler. The leg side (or on side) is behind the batter's body. Fielders are described by where they stand relative to these sides and the stumps.

Close catching positions

• Wicketkeeper: stands behind the stumps and collects the ball.
• Slip (first, second, third): stand beside the wicketkeeper on the off side, ready to catch edges. Used mostly in Test cricket and with the new ball.
• Gully: stands wider than the slips, catching edges that go square.
• Short leg and silly point: stand very close to the bat on the leg and off sides to catch deflections, usually when a spinner bowls.

Inner ring positions (the off side)

• Point: square of the wicket on the off side, close to the batter.
• Cover: between point and mid-off, a key position for stopping drives.
• Extra cover: slightly wider and deeper than cover.
• Mid-off: on the off side, close to the bowler's side of the pitch.

Inner ring positions (the leg side)

• Mid-on: on the leg side, near the bowler, mirroring mid-off.
• Mid-wicket: square on the leg side, between mid-on and square leg.
• Square leg: level with the batter on the leg side.

Boundary positions

When the fielding captain wants to save fours and sixes, fielders drop back to the boundary with names like deep point, deep cover, long-off, long-on, deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. Behind the batter you will also see:

• Third man: behind the batter on the off side, close to the boundary, to stop edges and late cuts.
• Fine leg: behind the batter on the leg side, to stop glances and flicks.

Why captains choose certain fields

An attacking field has fielders close to the bat and in catching positions, which gives bowlers a chance to take wickets but leaves gaps for boundaries. A defensive field puts fielders on the boundary to restrict runs. A captain may switch between them depending on the match situation, the format, the pitch and the batter's strengths. If a batter loves the pull shot, for example, the captain may post a deep square leg or a deep mid-wicket.

Fielding restrictions in limited-overs cricket

In ODI and T20 cricket, the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle is limited during certain overs.

• T20: during the first six overs (the powerplay), only two fielders can be outside the circle; after that, five.
• ODI: restrictions are applied in stages across the 50 overs, with more fielders allowed outside the circle as the innings progresses.

These rules encourage attacking batting at the start of an innings and drive the strategy for both teams. For more on the format differences, read our guide to Test, ODI and T20.

Putting it into practice

Next time you watch a match, look at where the captain has put the fielders, then watch where the bowler tries to bowl. You will see a plan unfold: a full ball outside off stump with a ring of fielders on the off side invites the drive; a short ball with fielders on the leg boundary invites the pull. Combine this knowledge with our guide to reading a scorecard and you will follow the tactical side of the game with ease.