Cricket Fielding Positions: Area Name, Role, Player Positions

Cricket is not only playing batting and bowling, but fielding also plays a major role. Each fielder needs to be at a designated strategic place on the playing field and each player has a role to play, a very well-thought-out role based on the style of the bowler, the prowess of the batter and the situation under play. Field placements over the years have changed resulting in a combination of conventional and contemporary placements that determine game dynamics. Through this guide, we are going to understand all the major fielding positions in the game of cricket (both basic and fancy ones), their name, description, and significance in winning/losing match.

List of Cricket Fielding Positions in Cricket

The following is the full list of typical cricket fielding position:

How Are Cricket Fielding Positions Named?

Cricket fielding positions are called in the names of angles, distance and side of the batsman:

• Leg / On Side: The side of the batsman which his legs are on.
• Off Side: The side opposite of the batting walk.
• Ridiculous: Right up on the batsman.
• Short: Close but not as dangerous as silly.
• Mid: It is at medium distance between the boundary and batsman.
• Long / Deep: More distant, at the border.
• Forward / Backward / Square / Fine / Wide: Reference to the angle in relation to the bats man position.
• E.g.: Deep Square Leg the square fielder on the leg side, deep but not close.

The Ground Zones explained

A cricket field can be categorised into three important areas:

• Close Infield (1015 yards): To be used in catching and pressure.
• Inner Ring (Up to 30 yards): Hits singles and puts pressure.
• Outfield (30 yards to boundary): de-saving and stopping the boundaries.

What are all the Cricket Fielding Positions?

1. Wicketkeeper

• Requiring the obligatory role in cricket.
• Places himself behind the stumps to gather supplies.
• Bats nearer to the spinners and away to fast bowlers.
• Requires lightning quickness, nimbleness and keen foresight.
• Eg: MS Dhoni, Adam Gilchrist, Kumar Sangakkara.

2. Slips

• Between the wicketkeeper and the off side.
• They are used to pick out edges of fast bowlers or seamers.
• May be anything between 1 slip to 4-5 slip depending on aggression.
• Leg slip is not commonly employed but it is performed against spinners.
• Good Slip Fielders: Ricky Ponting, Ajinkya Rahane, Mahela Jayawardene.

3. Gully

• In slip and point.
• Perfect to take sneaking in the early overs.
• Needs good reflexes, diving catches are not uncommon.

4. Point

• It stands square at the off side.
• Cuts shots and singles with stops.
• A backward point is a bit lagging to prevent late cuts.
• Contemporary: Athleticism in point of Ravindra Jadeja.

5. Extra Cover & Cover Area

• Steady on the off at 45 degrees.
• Kills off drives and boundaries with the covers.
• Extra Cover is between cover and mid off.
• Celebrities in Cover: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers.

6. Mid-Off & Mid-On

• Mid-Off to the other (Off side or opposite side, where mid in front of the bowler almost finishes his follow-through).
• Mid-On-Leg side mirror of mid-on.
• Those that captains or senior players usually take in order to instruct bowlers.

7. Mid-Wicket

• The leg side, before square.
• Prevents pull and flick shots.
• Courage required on account of strong strokes.

8. Square Leg

• Be nearly in a square line with the umpire at the leg.
• Halts sweeps and pullings.
• Variants Back square leg (behind batsman), Deep square leg (near boundary).

9. Fine Leg

• Batsman at the leg side in a thin angle behind.
• Blocks deflections, flicks and sweep shots.
• Alternations: Short Fine Leg (near), and Deep Fine Leg (limit).

10. Third Man

• Behind Slips of the boundary.
• Stops edges and balls in slips or cut shots.
• Short Third Man is nearer and is frequently seen in white ball-cricket.

11. Bat Pad/Short Leg

• Very tight leg side.
• More typically an off-spin bowler, to drag bat-pad imperfections.
• Chearkes helmet, pads and courage.

New / Innovative Fielding Locations

Due to the developments in cricket, batters came up with new shots which led to the captains devising new field positioning.

How Fielding Positions Have Changed Over the Years

• Old Era: Slips, mid-off, square leg- all by the book.
• Modern Era: Adjustment to T20 cricket, and invention of newer shots, scoop, reverse sweep and switch hit.
• Short third man and sweeper cover are modern-day, new positions.
• The athleticism and fitness have brought about the presence of boundary fielders along with the ones near in-catching.

The Strategic Placements of Fielding by Captains

Fighting with Aggressive batters

• Having more fielders on the boundary (deep mid-wicket, long-on, deep cover).

On Defensive Batters

• Short-leg catchers (silly point, short leg, slip cordon).

In Powerplays (ODI/ T20)

• Non lay back of the 30 yard circle permits just 2 out-fielders.
• Captains resort to sweeper cover, long-off and deep square leg.

Death Overs

• 30 yard circle outside which 5 fielders are permitted.
• Most usual: deep mid-wicket, long-on, fine leg, deep cover, third man.

The significance of Fielding Positions in Cricket

• Prevent boundaries and wastage of important runs.
• Generates wicket taking chances.
• Bowling support: fast vs spin.
• creates mental stress on the batters.
• Captaincy tact and match situation reflected.

Quick Summary Table of 11 Fielders

Evolution of Fielding Over the Years

• Pre-1990s: Incident bank was a side show. There were not very many professionals such as Allan Border or Kapil Dev.
• 1990s: Jonty Rhodes came to change athletics fielding, which became a skill.
• 2000s: Teams such as Australia and South Africa establish fielding standards around the World.
• Now: All the cricketers are expected to be acute in fielding. Captains such as India, Australia or England field with lightning speed in the outfield.

Interesting Facts about Fielding

• Rahul Dravid (210) is the highest non wicketkeeper catcher in test matches.
• Mahela Jayawardene is on top of the chart with 218 in ODIs.
• The most famous moment of fielding is the flying run-out by Jonty Rhodes on Inzamam-ul-Haq in 1992 World Cup.

Conclusion

Fielding positions in cricket are not arbitrary: positions are tactics of offence and defence. Starting with the indispensable status of the wicketkeeper to the more inventive (such as short third man) positions, each placement assists the captain in negating the batter strong points. The number of creative positions is sure to grow, especially with T20 cricket bringing on new horizons.

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Refresh Date: August 26, 2025