Cricket Fielding Positions Explained for Beginners
Slip, gully, point, cover, mid-wicket, fine leg: cricket fielding positions can be confusing. Learn where each one stands and why captains move them around.
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Commentators often say things like "a catch at deep mid-wicket" or "the captain brings in a short leg", and new fans are left wondering where those players are actually standing. Cricket has more named fielding positions than almost any other sport, but the system is logical once you learn a few simple ideas. This guide explains the main positions and why captains change them during a match.
Off side and leg side
Everything starts with two halves of the field. For a right-handed batter, the off side is the side the batter faces when taking a stance, to the right of the bowler as they run in. The leg side is the side behind the batter's legs. For a left-handed batter, the sides switch.
Close, inner and deep
Positions are also described by distance:
- Close fielders stand near the batter to take quick catches.
- Inner ring fielders stand around the 30-yard circle to stop singles.
- Deep fielders stand near the boundary to stop fours and catch big hits.
Words like "short", "silly", "deep" and "long" tell you how close or far a fielder is.
Main off-side positions
| Position | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Slip | Beside the wicketkeeper, waiting for edges |
| Gully | Wider than the slips, at an angle |
| Point | Square of the batter on the off side |
| Cover | Between point and mid-off |
| Mid-off | Near the bowler, on the off side |
| Third man | Deep behind the slips |
Main leg-side positions
| Position | Where it is |
|---|---|
| Fine leg | Deep, behind the batter on the leg side |
| Square leg | Square of the batter on the leg side |
| Mid-wicket | Between square leg and mid-on |
| Mid-on | Near the bowler, on the leg side |
| Short leg | Very close to the batter, often with a helmet |
| Long-on | Deep, straight behind the bowler on the leg side |
Why captains move fielders
Captains move fielders based on the bowler, the batter and the match situation:
- Attacking fields use slips and close catchers when the ball is new or a spinner is turning it.
- Defensive fields spread players to the boundary when batters are hitting freely.
- Batter-specific fields target a player's favourite shots, such as a deep square leg for a batter who pulls a lot.
Fielding limits in limited-overs cricket
In T20 and ODI cricket, rules limit how many fielders may stand outside the 30-yard circle during different phases. In the first six overs of a T20, only two fielders may be outside. This is why boundaries come more easily early in an innings.
Spin and pace fields
Against fast bowling, captains often use two or three slips and a gully. Against spin, they may bring in a short leg and a silly point to catch bat-pad chances. Watching how the field changes when a spinner comes on is one of the best ways to learn these names.
The many spellings fans use
Bangladeshi fans often mix Bangla and English when talking about cricket, and brand and team names can be spelled in several ways too. If you follow cricket content online, this 9wickets BD guide shows how one name appears in different forms.
A quick practice idea
Next time you watch a match, pause when the camera shows the full field and try to name each position. Start with slip, point, cover, mid-on, mid-off and fine leg. Within a few matches, the rest will come naturally.
Final thought
Fielding positions look complicated, but they follow a clear pattern: side, angle and distance. Learn that pattern and commentary suddenly makes sense. More cricket explainers are on the 9wicketsbangla homepage.
