Fielding is one of the most exciting parts of the game we all love – Cricket. In this blog, you will have all you need to know about the several fielding positions on a cricket field. Let the games begin!

Fielding Positions – Let’s Get Started

Just like how it’s important to know how to grip the bat and the ball to become a great batter and a bowler, it is important to know different fielding positions if you aspire to become a world-class fielder. In this blog, you will have everything that is required to understand different fielding positions. Let’s get rolling.

With respect to the field, there are three different areas:

Close catching infield

This area is predominantly for fielders who are extremely quick with their reactions. As a fielder in the close catching infield, you must be alert and move quickly in order to get into the best position. Primarily around 15 yards from the batting crease, the close catching infield requires precision technique backed up by accuracy to save runs or return the ball to the wicket keeper or the bowler.

Inner ring

The inner ring region is around 30 yards from the batter. The intention of fielding in the inner circle is primarily to block singles or pull off gravity defying catches. While protecting the inner circle, make sure you get into position quickly. For the best technique, stay focused, have a balanced stance and as the batter strikes the ball, move forward and attack the ball. This creates the necessary pressure resulting in a potential run-out.

The outfield

As the name suggests, the area outside the inner circle is called the outfield. On either side of the wicket, outfield fielders are mostly placed to protect boundaries and sixes.

Next, let’s look at different fielding positions.

Slips

As mentioned in the previous blog post, the slip region comes in handy when the batter knicks or edges the ball beside the wicket keeper. There is the 1st slip, 2nd slip, 3rd slip and the fly slip fielder, also called the short third man. Now, the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd slip fielder protect the region beside the wicket keeper while the fly slip protects the area diagonally behind the slips outside the inner circle. This is on the off side of the wicket.

Gully

The gully fielder is placed exactly between the 4th slip fielder and the point region. That is, the area between the last slip fielder and the point region on the off side. Moving on, in line with the gully fielder, we have the deep gully fielder protecting the boundary.

Silly point

On the blog post about the introduction to fielding, we did learn about the silly point region. The silly point fielders are trained to be extremely quick with their reflexes and reaction speed. A little further from the batting crease, these fielders are responsible to create pressure and force batters to lose concentration. Right behind the silly point area, we have the point region. Fielders in the point region protect the ball from crossing the inner circle. Similarly, behind the point fielder, we have the deep point fielder saving the boundary.

Covers

For a left-hand or a right-hand batter, the cover region is on the off side of the wicket. The cover fielders protect the area between the point and the mid-off region, while the sweeper cover is deep on field protecting the boundary.

The extra cover fielder is placed between the point and the mid-off region, while the deep extra cover is in line with the extra cover area, however, near the boundary. Next comes the silly mid-off region. This is an aggressive fielding position near the pitch on the off side. Right in line with the mid-off position, we have the long-off position protecting the boundary.

The straight-hit position is right behind the bowler and is rarely managed by a fielder. In fact, it’s against the rule if a fielder is positioned right behind the bowler.

We now look into the fielding positions on the leg side of the wicket.

Silly Mid-On

Like we had the silly mid-off fielder on the off side, just parallel on the leg side, we have the silly mid-on fielder. In line with the silly mid-on position, we have the mid-on fielder protecting the inner circle and the long-on fielder saving the boundary.

Mid-Wicket

The mid-wicket position is the area between the square leg and the mid-on fielder. Fielders in this region have the time to predict the shot and get into position quickly. This creates the pressure in order to force a run-out. Similarly, the deep mid-wicket position is in line with the mid-wicket region, however, near the boundary.

Also, just like the sweeper position on the off side, we have the on-side sweeper fielder protecting the boundary.

Forward short leg

In line and in front of the short mid-wicket fielder, we have the forward short-leg position. Generally, the forward short-leg position is considered as the most difficult fielding area.

Square

This area of the cricket field is predominantly on the leg side. During the shorter formats of the game, a lot of runs are scored in this region. Therefore, it is vital to place fielders strategically. To the square of the wicket, we have the short square-leg, square-leg and finally the deep square-leg fielder protecting the boundary.

Leg slip

Like the slip fielders on the off side, we have the slip fielders beside the wicket keeper on the leg side. Mirroring the gully position on the off side, there is the leg gully fielder protecting the region between the leg slip and the square leg area.

Long leg

Right behind the batter, we have the long leg position. We also have the short fine-leg within the inner circle and the deep fine-leg position protecting the boundary.

The last fielding position on the leg side of a right-hand and a left-hand batter is the long-stop area. This is right behind the wicket keeper and is against the rule in cricket to have a fielder protect that region.

In the next blog post, we learn all about the on-drive and the straight drive!