Cricket fielding positions explained
A cricket fielding position is a named spot on the ground where a fielder stands, described by its side of the pitch (off or leg) and its distance from the bat (close, inner ring or deep).
There are 22 positions in the table below, which is every named spot in the planner. Names are for a right-hand batter. For a left-hand batter the off side and leg side swap, so every position moves to the opposite side of the pitch while keeping its name.
What are all the fielding positions in cricket?
The table lists each position with the side it is on and what it is used for. "Close" means within a few metres of the bat, "inner ring" means inside the fielding circle, and "deep" means near the boundary.
| Position | Side | Where it stands | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicket keeper | Behind the stumps | Directly behind the batter's stumps | Takes the ball from the bowler, catches edges and attempts stumpings and run outs. |
| Bowler | Centre | Delivering from the far end of the pitch | Delivers the ball, then fields on the follow-through. |
| Slip (1st slip) | Off | Close, behind the batter, next to the keeper | Catches edges off the bat, especially against pace bowling. |
| Second slip | Off | Close, beside first slip | Catches edges that carry wider than first slip. |
| Gully | Off | Close, wider and squarer than the slips | Catches edges and cuts that go down toward third man. |
| Backward point | Off | Inner ring, behind square | Stops the cut and late dab, and catches the edge that carries. |
| Point | Off | Inner ring, square of the wicket | Stops the cut and the square drive. |
| Cover | Off | Inner ring, between point and mid-off | Saves the drive through the off side. |
| Extra cover | Off | Inner ring, between cover and mid-off | Saves the front-foot drive and cuts off singles. |
| Mid-off | Off | Inner ring, close to straight on the off side | Stops the straight drive and takes mistimed catches. |
| Mid-on | Leg | Inner ring, close to straight on the leg side | Stops the straight drive and the whip off the pads. |
| Midwicket | Leg | Inner ring, between mid-on and square leg | Saves the pull and the flick, and catches mistimed shots. |
| Square leg | Leg | Inner ring, square of the wicket on the leg side | Catches the pull and sweep, and stops runs square on the leg side. |
| Fine leg | Leg | Inner ring, behind square on the leg side | Stops the glance and the fine sweep. |
| Third man | Off | Deep, behind the wicket on the off side | Stops the edge or upper cut running to the boundary. |
| Deep point | Off | Deep, square on the off side | Guards the boundary against the cut and square drive. |
| Deep cover | Off | Deep, between point and long off | Guards the boundary against the lofted off drive. |
| Long off | Off | Deep, close to straight on the off side | Guards the straight boundary against the lofted drive. |
| Long on | Leg | Deep, close to straight on the leg side | Guards the straight boundary against the lofted drive and slog. |
| Deep midwicket | Leg | Deep, between long on and deep square leg | Guards the boundary against the pull and slog. |
| Deep square leg | Leg | Deep, square on the leg side | Guards the boundary against the pull and the slog sweep. |
| Deep fine leg | Leg | Deep, behind square on the leg side | Guards the boundary against the glance, hook and fine sweep. |
Closer and looser names have their own pages too: silly point, short leg, leg slip and cow corner. Each is a variation on the spots above.
Which fielding positions are on the off side and which on the leg side?
The off side is the half of the ground the batter's front shoulder points toward at the start of the shot. For a right-hand batter that is the left of the diagram.
| Side | Positions |
|---|---|
| Off side | Slip, second slip, gully, backward point, point, cover, extra cover, mid-off, third man, deep point, deep cover, long off |
| Leg side | Mid-on, midwicket, square leg, fine leg, long on, deep midwicket, deep square leg, deep fine leg |
What is the difference between close, inner ring and deep fielders?
- Close fielders (slips, gully, silly point, short leg) stand within a few metres of the bat and take catches off edges and defensive shots.
- Inner ring fielders stand inside the fielding circle and stop singles as well as taking catches.
- Deep fielders stand near the boundary and stop fours and sixes.
How many fielders can stand behind square on the leg side?
No more than two fielders, other than the wicket keeper, may stand behind the popping crease on the leg (on) side at the instant of delivery. This is Law 28.4 of the MCC Laws, and the umpire calls a no-ball if it is broken. Limited-overs formats add further limits on how many fielders may stand outside the circle: see T20 fielding restrictions and ODI fielding restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
How many fielding positions are there in cricket?
There is no fixed number, because a captain can place a fielder anywhere. About 22 positions have standard names, and this page lists all of them. Extra names such as silly point and short leg describe spots closer to the bat.
What is the difference between point and cover?
Point is square of the wicket on the off side, so it stops the cut. Cover is further forward, between point and mid-off, so it stops the drive.
Do the positions change for a left-hand batter?
The names stay the same but each position moves to the opposite side of the pitch, because the off side and leg side swap.
Sources
Put your players on the field, save a plan for each situation, and send it to the team as a link. No sign-up.
Open Cricket Field MapRelated guides
Positions are standard names, but exact distances vary with the ground, the bowler and the batter.