Cricket · Guide
Cricket fielding positions
The names can sound random, but they follow a system: off side or leg side, how close to the batter, and how far forward or behind them.
The words that make up the names
| Off side | The side the batter faces in their stance. For a right-hander, the bowler's left. |
| Leg side (or on side) | The other half, behind the batter's legs. |
| Silly / short | Very close to the batter. |
| Deep / long | Out near the boundary. |
| Square | Level with the batter. |
| Fine | Behind the batter, close to the line of the pitch. |
| Mid | In front of the batter, closer to the bowler. |
The main positions
- Wicketkeeper: behind the stumps, gloves on.
- Slips and gully: catchers in an arc next to the keeper on the off side, waiting for edges.
- Point: square on the off side. Cover: in front of point, towards the bowler.
- Mid-off and mid-on: either side of the bowler, saving the single.
- Midwicket and square leg: the leg-side equivalents of cover and point.
- Fine leg and third man: behind the batter, near the boundary, on the leg side and off side.
- Long off and long on: deep, straight, stopping the big hits back past the bowler.
Close catchers
Against spin, captains bring fielders right up to the bat: silly point and short leg, both wearing helmets. Leg slip waits behind the batter on the leg side for glances.
Quick answers
- What is the off side in cricket?
- The half of the field on the side the batter faces when they take their stance. For a right-hander, that is the bowler's left.
- Where does slip field in cricket?
- Next to the wicketkeeper, on the off side, waiting for edges. First slip stands nearest the keeper, then second and third slip.
- What is the difference between deep and short positions?
- Deep positions are near the boundary; short or silly positions are close to the batter. Square means level with the batter, fine means behind them.
- What is gully in cricket?
- A catching position on the off side, a little squarer than the slips.