Cricket Fielding Positions Explained (with Simple Descriptions)
A practical guide to cricket fielding positions — slips, gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, square leg, fine leg and more — and why captains use them.
Tactics · 6 min read · Updated July 21, 2026
One of the most confusing parts of cricket for newcomers is the huge list of fielding positions. Captains move fielders constantly to build pressure and cut off scoring. This guide explains the key positions and the thinking behind them.
Off side and leg side
Field positions are described relative to the batter. The off side is the side the batter faces; the leg (or on) side is behind their legs. Because a batter’s stance flips for left- and right-handers, the same position name can be on either physical side of the ground.
Close catching positions
- Wicketkeeper — stands behind the stumps to catch or stop the ball.
- Slips — line up beside the keeper to catch edges from fast bowling.
- Gully — slightly squarer than the slips, catching harder edges.
- Short leg and silly point — very close to the bat, used to catch defensive pushes.
Infield positions (saving singles)
- Point — square of the batter on the off side.
- Cover — between point and mid-off, a common area for driven shots.
- Mid-off and mid-on — straight down the ground either side of the bowler.
- Midwicket — on the leg side, between mid-on and square leg.
- Square leg — square of the batter on the leg side.
Outfield positions (saving boundaries)
- Third man — behind the batter on the off side, stopping edges that beat the slips.
- Fine leg — behind the batter on the leg side, often catching glances and hooks.
- Deep cover, deep midwicket, long-on, long-off — boundary riders who stop fours and take catches from big hits.
Why captains change the field
Field placements reflect the match situation. Early in an innings, or when a new batter arrives, captains crowd the bat with catchers to force a mistake. Later, or when defending a total, they push fielders to the boundary to protect against big hitting. Watching where the captain places fielders tells you a lot about their plan for each batter.
Next time you watch a match, try to name the positions as the camera pans around. It is a great way to understand the tactical chess match happening on every ball.