Test cricket fielding rules
Test cricket has no powerplays and no limit on how many fielders may stand on the boundary; the main restriction is that no more than two fielders, other than the wicket keeper, may be behind the popping crease on the leg side.
That leg-side rule is Law 28.4 of the MCC Laws and clause 28.4 of the ICC Test playing conditions, and it is the same in the men's and the women's game. It exists to stop the tactic known as Bodyline, where a bowler aims at the batter with a ring of catchers behind square on the leg side.
What are the fielding restrictions in a Test match?
| Rule | Limit | ICC clause |
|---|---|---|
| Fielders behind the popping crease on the on (leg) side | No more than 2, not counting the wicket keeper | 28.4 |
| Fielder on or over the pitch while the ball is in play | Not allowed for anyone except the bowler | 28.5 |
| Fielders outside a 30-yard circle | No limit: there is no circle in Tests | Not applicable |
If the on-side limit is broken, the striker's end umpire calls and signals a no-ball. A fielder counts as behind the popping crease unless the whole of their body, on the ground or in the air, is in front of that line.
Can a Test captain put every fielder on the boundary?
Yes. Apart from the leg-side limit there is no restriction on where the fielding side stands. That is why Test fields range from a ring of close catchers to a "sweeper" style field with most players deep. There are no powerplays in Test cricket, so the same rules apply from the first ball to the last.
Can fielders move while the bowler is running in?
Only in limited ways. Once the ball is in play and before it reaches the striker, a fielder other than the keeper may not move unless the movement is a minor adjustment to stance, a small move toward the striker that does not significantly change their position, or a response to the shot the striker is playing (clause 28.6). Unfair movement is called dead ball.
What does a typical Test field look like?
A new ball field usually has two or three slips and a gully, with cover, mid-off and mid-on to save the drive, as in the diagram above. As the ball gets older and the batters settle, captains tend to bring the slips out and add boundary riders. See the pace bowling field and spin bowling field guides for examples.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any fielding restrictions in Test cricket?
Only the leg-side rule: no more than two fielders, other than the wicket keeper, behind the popping crease on the leg side. There are no powerplays or circles.
Why can only two fielders stand behind square on the leg side?
The rule was brought in to prevent Bodyline-style bowling at the batter with a packed leg-side field behind square. A breach is a no-ball.
Does the same leg-side rule apply in T20 and ODI?
Yes, and those formats add a limit of five fielders on the leg side as well as the circle limits.
Sources
- ICC Men's Test Match, Clause 28: The Fielder
- ICC Women's Test Match Playing Conditions, effective July 2026 (clause 28)
- MCC Laws of Cricket, Law 28: The Fielder (Lord's)
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
Fielding restrictions differ between competitions and age groups. Check your own playing conditions.