Cricket fielding positions are simply named spots on the field where the captain places fielders to take catches, stop runs and put pressure on the batter. Once you know the basic map, the game becomes far easier to follow. This guide explains every major position in plain English, shows where each one sits, and explains when captains use them.
Why Fielding Positions Matter
A cricket field is a large oval with the pitch in the middle. At any moment, the captain chooses where to station the other ten fielders, and those choices reveal the plan: attack the stumps, defend the boundary, or tempt the batter into a risky shot.
Two ideas do most of the work. First, the field is split into an off side and a leg side (also called the on side). For a right-handed batter, the off side is the half of the field in front of the batter’s body as they face the bowler; the leg side is behind their legs. For a left-hander, the two halves swap over.
Second, positions are described relative to the batter and the two umpires. “Square” means level with the batter, “fine” means very close to the line behind the stumps, and “mid” means roughly halfway between the batter and the boundary.
The Close Catching Positions Behind the Stumps
These are the positions where catches win matches. They stand close to the bat, so reflexes matter more than running.
Slip
Slip stands behind the batter on the off side, waiting for edges. There is usually at least one slip, and in attacking cricket a captain may post three or four in a row, each numbered first slip, second slip and so on, fanning out from the wicketkeeper.
Gully
Gully is the gap between the slips and the point region, roughly square of the wicket on the off side. It catches thick edges and balls that fly off a defensive bat, and it is a favourite position on fast, bouncy pitches.
Leg Slip and Short Leg
These sit on the leg side, close to the batter. Leg slip waits for glances and deflections, while short leg crouches almost under the batter’s nose to catch balls popped up off the bat or the gloves. Both are aggressive, attacking positions.
Fielding Positions in Front of the Batter
These fielders cut off drives and stop the batter from scoring easily down the ground.
Point and Cover
Point is square of the wicket on the off side, and cover is a little further forward. Together they patrol the area where most batters like to free their arms, so captains often place their best, fastest fielders here.
Mid-off and Mid-on
Mid-off is straight down the ground on the off side; mid-on is the mirror image on the leg side. They are the classic positions for saving a straight drive, and they move up (closer) or back (towards the boundary) depending on whether the captain wants to attack or defend.
Fielding Positions on the Leg Side
The leg side carries more fielders in most modern plans, because many batters score heavily there.
Midwicket and Square Leg
Midwicket is square of the wicket on the leg side, and square leg is roughly level with the batter on the same side. These positions catch the pull shot and the flick off the pads, two of the most common scoring strokes in the game.
Fine Leg
Fine leg sits behind the batter on the leg side, near the line of the stumps. It stops glances and catches top edges from hook and pull shots, and it is often the position a captain uses to protect the boundary behind the wicketkeeper.
Third Man
Third man is the equivalent position on the off side, behind the slips. It cuts off late cuts and thick edges that beat the slip cordon, and it is a common boundary-saving spot in limited-overs cricket.
A Quick Reference Table
| Position | Side of the field | Main job |
|---|---|---|
| Slip | Off, behind the batter | Catch edges off the bat |
| Gully | Off, square | Catch thick edges and deflections |
| Point | Off, square | Stop cuts and square drives |
| Cover | Off, in front of square | Stop drives through the covers |
| Mid-off | Off, straight | Stop drives down the ground |
| Mid-on | Leg, straight | Stop drives down the ground |
| Midwicket | Leg, square | Catch pulls and flicks |
| Square leg | Leg, square | Stop singles and catch pulls |
| Fine leg | Leg, behind the batter | Stop glances and top edges |
| Third man | Off, behind the batter | Save boundaries behind the slips |
How Captains Choose a Field
Field placement is a chess match. A captain weighs the bowler’s strengths, the batter’s favourite shots, the state of the pitch and the match situation, then adjusts after almost every ball.
- Attacking field: more catchers close to the bat, such as extra slips, a short leg and a silly point (a very close position on the off side). Used with a new ball, on a helpful pitch, or when a wicket is needed.
- Defensive field: fielders pushed back to the boundary to stop fours. Common in the closing overs of a limited-overs match when the batting side is chasing quick runs.
- Spin-friendly field: a slip, a short leg and fielders around the bat, plus a sweeper on the boundary to cut off the sweep shot.
Good fielding is also a team skill, and the discipline it builds carries well beyond the boundary rope, as explored in our piece on teamwork on and off the field. If you are new to watching the sport, understanding field settings is one of the fastest ways to enjoy the tactical side of the game.
Tips for Reading the Field as a New Fan
- Find the wicketkeeper first; the slips and gully fan out from there.
- Identify the batter’s stance to work out which half is the off side and which is the leg side.
- Count how many fielders are close to the bat. More catchers usually means an attacking plan; more boundary riders means the captain is defending.
- Watch where the bowler is aiming. A field is designed around a specific line and length, so the two always go together.
Commentators often use these names as shorthand, so once the map clicks, the tactical talk starts to make sense. The same principle of preparation and focus that elite fielders show is explored in our article on how elite athletes train their minds.
Getting Comfortable With the Cricket Field
Cricket fielding positions look complicated only because there are so many of them. Break the field into four zones, behind the stumps on both sides and in front of the stumps on both sides, and every name has a logical home. Slip, gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, midwicket, square leg and fine leg are the core set you will hear in almost every match.
Next time you watch a game, pause and try to name three fielders before the bowler runs in. It is a simple habit, and it turns a confusing oval into a readable map of the captain’s plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to remember cricket fielding positions?
Start with the wicketkeeper, then work outwards. Slip and gully sit behind the batter on the off side, point and cover are square and in front on the off side, mid-off and mid-on are straight down the ground, and midwicket, square leg and fine leg cover the leg side. Grouping them by zone makes the names much easier to recall.
What is the difference between the off side and the leg side?
For a right-handed batter, the off side is the half of the field in front of the batter's body as they face the bowler, and the leg side is the half behind their legs. For a left-handed batter, the two halves are reversed. Positions are always described from the batter's point of view.
Why do captains put so many fielders in the slip cordon?
Slips are there to catch edges behind the wicket, which is one of the most common ways a batter is dismissed with a new ball. On a pitch offering movement, a captain may place three or four slips to turn small mistakes into wickets. As the ball gets older, those fielders often move out to save runs instead.
What does an attacking field look like?
An attacking field has more catchers close to the bat, such as extra slips, a short leg, a gully and sometimes a silly point. It is used when the bowling side wants wickets rather than to limit runs, typically with a new ball or on a helpful pitch. A defensive field does the opposite, pushing fielders back to the boundary.
Is there a limit to how many fielders can be on one side?
Yes. The laws of cricket restrict how many fielders may stand behind the wicket on the leg side, and in limited-overs formats there are additional restrictions during parts of the innings that require a minimum number of fielders inside the circle. These rules exist to keep the contest between bat and ball balanced.