There are many different fielding positions in cricket, each with its own specific purpose. Here are some of the most common fielding positions: Fielding in cricket is an essential component of the game, as it directly influences a team’s ability to restrict runs and take wickets.
The fielding team’s goal is to prevent the batting side from scoring runs by dismissing their players. Each fielder’s position is strategically chosen to maximize their ability to achieve these goals.
Cricket Ground Size & Dimensions
For Men’s Cricket Matches –
| Criteria | Min. Length | Max. Length | Min. Diameter |
| Square Boundaries | 59.43 meters | 82.29 meters | 137.16 meters |
| Straight Boundaries | 64 meters | 82.29 meters | 137.16 meters |
Introduction to Fielding Positions
Wicket-keeper:
The wicketkeeper is the only fielder who is allowed to wear gloves and leg pads. They stand behind the stumps and are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled between the stumps. They are also responsible for stumping the batsman if they are out of their crease when the ball is delivered.
Slip fielders:
The slip fielders stand close to the wicketkeeper on the off side of the field. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled too close to the wicket.
Gully fielder:
The gully fielder stands just behind the slip fielders, on the off side of the field. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled between the slip fielders and the wicketkeeper.
Point fielder:
The point fielder stands on the off side of the field, about 20 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the off side.
Cover fielder:
The cover fielder stands on the off side of the field, about 30 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the cover region.
Mid-off fielder:
The mid-off fielder stands in the middle of the field, on the off side, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the mid-off region.
Mid-on fielder:
The mid-on fielder stands in the middle of the field, on the leg side, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the mid-on region.
Square leg fielder:
The square leg fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 20 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the square leg region.
Fine leg fielder:
The fine leg fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 30 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the fine leg region.
Third man fielder:
The third man fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the third man region.
Deep square leg fielder:
The deep square leg fielder stands in the deep, on the leg side, about 60 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the deep square leg region.
Deep midwicket fielder:
The deep midwicket fielder stands in the deep, on the off side, about 60 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the deep midwicket region.
Long on fielder:
The long on fielder stands in the deep, on the off side, about 80 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the long on region.
Long off fielder:
The long off fielder stands in the deep, on the leg side, about 80 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the long off region.
The specific fielding positions that are used will vary depending on the batsman, the bowler, and the situation in the match. The captain will decide which fielding positions to use in order to give the team the best chance of preventing the batsman from scoring runs and getting out.
Long Stop
A long stop is a fielding position behind the wicket-keeper . It is usually toward the boundary of the cricket field. Further, a wicketkeeper is considered to play during a match inteptly, which the fielder requires in this position. In professional cricket, this position is not in use.
Silly Point
Silly point is a fielder position that is closer than a conventional poit fielder. This fielder stands very close to the batting position.
Deep Point
The position on the off-side, square of the batsman’s wicket. It is known as the deep point fielding position. Deep point fielder near the boundary.
Cover Sweeper
Cover sweeper is an alternative name for deep cover, deep extra cover, or deep midwicket. The purpose of this fielding position is to defend and prevent a four scored.
Cover Point
A cover point is a fielding position between the point and mid-off.
Extra Cover
The extra cover fielder stands between the regular cover fielder and mid-off.
Short extra cover
If the extra-cover fielder comes close to the wicket, Then the main task of this fielder is to catch the ball, which is called short extra cover
Deep extra cover
The deep extra cover fielding position is more defensive than the short extra cover, and the extra cover fielding position is out on the boundary
Silly Mid On
The Silly Mid On is the fielding position on the leg side and forward of the batsman’s wicket. Basically, it is very near the batsman.
Straight Hit
It is the fielding position behind the bowler near the boundary line. The straight line hit fielder stands on a straight line between stumps and the sightscreen.
Short Mid Wicket
In this fielding position, the short mid wicket fielder stands between mid-wicket and silly mid-on.
Mid Wicket\ Cow corner
Mid wicket fielder positioned between square leg and mid on. Mid wicket fielding position is approximately between 45-60 from the bat.
The mid-wicket fielder is also known as a cow corner. This is because the fielder stands at the corner of the cricket field, which is a hindrance to cows from grazing as there are minor chances of hitting the ball.
Deep Mid Wicket
When the batsman fully attempts to make a strong pull, the deep mid-wicket mostly plays a role during the match. deep -mid wicket stands on the leg side boundary behind the wicket. Basically, it prevents the leg side boundary.
Sweeper
Sweeper is another name for deep cover, deep mid-wicket, and deep extra cover. The fielder stands near the boundary on the off side or on the on side.
Leg Gully
Leg gully fielder has full command to catch fast balls during cricket. He stands on the leg side or near the leg slip more than the batsman. Leg gully must have good skills as he is the main part of fielding team.
Long Leg
Long leg fielder stands at a 45 degree angle between square leg position. Long leg fielder have similar to fine leg but placed on boundary.
Leg Slip
Leg slip position is where the first slip in cricket. For right handed batsamn it will be right and for left handed batsman it will be left side.
- Short Fine Leg
Short fine leg is a deep fielding position on the leg side behind the striker’s wicket. He is close to the line of the pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a total of 11 fielding positions in cricket. However, only 9 fielding positions can be occupied at any given time, as the bowler and wicket-keeper are fixed positions.
The most common fielding positions are:
Wicket-keeper: The wicket-keeper is the only fielder who is allowed to wear gloves and leg pads. They stand behind the stumps and are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled between the stumps. They are also responsible for stumping the batsman if they are out of their crease when the ball is delivered.
Slip fielders: The slip fielders stand close to the wicket-keeper, on the off side of the field. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled too close to the wicket.
Gully fielder: The gully fielder stands just behind the slip fielders, on the off side of the field. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is bowled between the slip fielders and the wicket-keeper.
Point fielder: The point fielder stands on the off side of the field, about 20 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the off side.
Cover fielder: The cover fielder stands on the off side of the field, about 30 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the cover region.
Mid-off fielder: The mid-off fielder stands in the middle of the field, on the off side, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the mid-off region.
Mid-on fielder: The mid-on fielder stands in the middle of the field, on the leg side, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the mid-on region.
Square leg fielder: The square leg fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 20 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the square leg region.
Fine leg fielder: The fine leg fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 30 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the fine leg region.
Third man fielder: The third man fielder stands on the leg side of the field, about 40 yards from the wicket. They are responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the third man region.
The specific fielding positions that are used will vary depending on the batsman, the bowler, and the situation in the match. The captain will decide which fielding positions to use in order to give the team the best chance of preventing the batsman from scoring runs and getting out.
Fine leg is a fielding position in cricket. It is located on the leg side of the field, about 30 yards from the wicket. The fine leg fielder is responsible for catching the ball if it is hit to the fine leg region.
The fine leg region is the area between square leg and third man. It is a relatively narrow area, so the fine leg fielder must be agile and have good reflexes in order to catch the ball.
The fine leg fielder is often a fast bowler or all-rounder, as they are typically the fittest and most athletic players in the team. They are also often the most experienced fielders, as they need to be able to judge the flight of the ball and the batsman’s shot in order to make the catch.
The fine leg fielder is an important part of the fielding team. They can prevent the batsman from scoring runs and help to get them out. They can also put pressure on the batsman by making them think about where they are going to hit the ball.
The term “fine leg” is thought to have originated from the fact that the fielder is positioned close to the wicket, so they are able to “finely” catch the ball.
Here are some of the advantages of having a fine leg fielder:
They can prevent the batsman from scoring runs by catching the ball.
They can put pressure on the batsman by making them think about where they are going to hit the ball.
They can help to get the batsman out by catching the ball or running them out.
They can provide cover for other fielders, such as the wicket-keeper and the slips.
Here are some of the disadvantages of having a fine leg fielder:
They are not always able to catch the ball, especially if it is hit hard.
They can be a long way from the wicket, so they may not be able to stop the batsman from scoring runs.
They can be a target for the batsman, who may try to hit the ball past them.
Overall, the fine leg fielder is an important part of the fielding team. They can prevent the batsman from scoring runs and help to get them out. However, they are not always able to catch the ball, and they can be a target for the batsman.
Conclusion
Understanding cricket fielding positions is crucial for both players and spectators. Each position has a specific role in the game’s dynamics, and their strategic placement can lead to wickets and tight control over runs. From slip to deep fielders, every position contributes to the overall strategy of the fielding team. So, the next time you watch a cricket match, pay close attention to the positions of the players on the field, and you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the tactical intricacies of this remarkable sport.
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