Cricket fielding positions explained: slips, gully, point, cover, mid-on and more

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Cricket fielding positions have strange names, and a field placing can look like eleven people scattered at random. In fact every position has a purpose: stopping runs, taking catches, or both. This guide explains the main positions, how to picture the field, and why captains move players around.

How to picture the field

Imagine the pitch from above with a right-handed batter at one end.

The off side is the side the batter faces, in front of their body. The leg side, also called the on side, is behind their legs.
Square means level with the batter, at right angles to the pitch. Positions in front are called forward of square; positions behind are behind square.
Fine means close to the line of the pitch, behind the batter. Wide means further from that line.
Silly means very close to the batter, short means closer than usual, and deep or long means near the boundary.

For a left-handed batter, the whole field is mirrored.

The fixed positions

Bowler: fields off their own bowling.
Wicketkeeper: stands behind the stumps, gloved, to catch edges and take stumpings and run outs.

Behind the batter on the off side

Slips: stand beside the wicketkeeper in a line, numbered first slip, second slip, third slip, waiting for edges. Attacking captains use several slips with a new ball.
Gully: a little wider and squarer than the slips, catching edges that fly harder or squarer.
Third man: on the boundary behind the slips, saving runs from edges and late cuts.

Square and in front on the off side

Point: square of the batter on the off side, stopping cuts and taking catches. Backward point sits slightly behind square.
Cover: in front of point, covering drives. Extra cover is between cover and mid-off.
Mid-off: in front of the batter on the off side, roughly level with the bowler's end, stopping straight drives.
Long-off: on the boundary behind mid-off.
Deep cover or sweeper: on the off side boundary, in front of square.

The leg side

Mid-on: the leg side equivalent of mid-off, stopping drives back past the bowler.
Long-on: on the boundary behind mid-on.
Mid-wicket: between mid-on and square leg, covering flicks and pulls. Deep mid-wicket is on the boundary.
Square leg: square of the batter on the leg side. The square leg umpire stands near here too.
Fine leg: behind square on the leg side, near the boundary, saving runs from glances and edges. Long leg is a deeper, squarer version.
Leg slip and leg gully: catching positions behind the batter on the leg side.

Close catchers

Short leg, sometimes called forward short leg, stands very close on the leg side, often used to spin bowlers and to short-pitched bowling. A helmet and shin guards are standard.
Silly point and silly mid-off or silly mid-on stand very close in front, waiting for bat-pad catches and defensive prods.

Restrictions on placing fielders

The Laws of Cricket limit some placements. For example, at the moment of delivery there may be no more than two fielders, other than the wicketkeeper, behind square on the leg side. In limited-overs cricket, competition playing conditions add fielding restrictions during set phases, such as powerplays, limiting how many fielders can stand outside a marked circle. The detail varies by format and competition, so check the playing conditions for the match you are following.

Attacking and defensive fields

Attacking fields pack catchers around the bat: several slips, gully, short leg. Captains use them with a new ball, against a new batter or when chasing wickets.
Defensive fields spread fielders towards the boundary to cut off runs, common late in limited-overs innings.
Bowler-specific fields: an outswing bowler wants slips; an off spinner may want a short leg and a mid-wicket; a bowler aiming at the stumps may want mid-on and mid-off straighter.

Fielding tips for beginners

Walk in as the bowler runs up so you are moving when the ball is hit.
Watch the batter, not the bowler, as the ball is delivered.
Attack the ball rather than waiting for it, and get your body behind it where you can.
Learn where your captain wants you and check between overs; positions shift often.

Which fielding position do you enjoy most, and which names still confuse you? Share your experience or questions in the comments.