| To the uninitiated, fielding positions in the sport of | | | | Fine Leg and Deep Fine Leg. |
| cricket may seem rather silly- literally. Silly mid-on and | | | | Silly point is a dangerous offside position as it is close |
| silly-mid off might certainly knock your senses out- | | | | to the striker's end and square of the batter. This is |
| especially if you are fielding there! | | | | a catching position that requires a helmet. On the |
| Regardless of the batting style of the batter (left or | | | | leg-side, there are more variations to this area on the |
| right-handed), a cricket field has an offside and a | | | | field: square short leg, short leg and forward short |
| leg-side. The position of the offside and leg-side are | | | | leg. |
| dependent on the batting style of the batter. | | | | Silly Mid off is at a narrow angle to the pitch, closer |
| Although a cricket field is symmetrical, the name of a | | | | to the non-striker's end on the offside of the pitch. |
| fielding position is based on whether it is offside or | | | | Naturally, there is also a Silly Mid on position on the |
| leg-side and the general area it covers. | | | | leg-side of the pitch. |
| Fielding positions in cricket describe a broad area on | | | | Point is a position that is square of the batsman and |
| the field. Sometimes commentators describe a fielding | | | | midway to the boundary on the offside. Square leg is |
| position as being between one and another, instead | | | | the corresponding position on the other side of the |
| of a particular position. For example, you might hear a | | | | field. Deep Square Leg is a special position that |
| fielder being placed between 'leg gully' and 'square leg'. | | | | captains use to cut off hook/pull shots to the |
| Some fielding positions are short/long/ deep and | | | | leg-side. |
| square/fine. For instance, you can have a square | | | | The Cover position is a deep position. It is deeper |
| short leg, square leg and deep square leg. Square leg | | | | and less square than the point position on the offside. |
| refers to the area of the pitch. The adjective | | | | Extra Cover is another deep offside position |
| describes the distance away from the centre of the | | | | between cover and mid-off, but close to the cover |
| field. | | | | region. On the leg-side of the field, Midwicket is the |
| Fielding positions are critical in setting fields. Although | | | | corresponding fielding position. |
| there are several fielding positions, captains only have | | | | Mid Off is a fine offside position in front of the |
| nine players to position- besides the bowler and | | | | striker. Long off is a deep offside field position that is |
| wicketkeeper. An understanding of positions helps | | | | directly behind Mid Off. The corresponding position on |
| captains to distribute fielders according to game | | | | the leg-side is the Mid On position. |
| strategy. Fielding positions also help radio | | | | Short Mid Wicket and Deep Mid Wicket are leg-side |
| commentators to describe the layout of a field! | | | | positions for which there are no similar positions on |
| Fielding positions | | | | the offside. Short mid-wicket is a catching position |
| Wicketkeeper- Wicketkeepers are fielding specialists | | | | between Silly Mid On and Mid Wicket. Deep Mid |
| who always position themselves behind the stumps | | | | Wicket patrols the boundary behind Midwicket and is |
| at the striker's end. They can either be up to the | | | | a boundary-stopping position. |
| stumps (for spinners / medium pacers) or up to | | | | Fielding positions that are closer to the bat-like slips, |
| several metres from the stumps (for fast bowlers). | | | | silly mid on and short square leg- are attacking/ |
| Slips stand next to the keeper on the offside, | | | | catching positions. Those that are deeper- like cover |
| forming an arc. Typically, there are three slip | | | | and midwicket- are defensive positions designed to |
| positions- first, second and third slip. With an | | | | cut off runs. |
| ultra-attacking field, a fourth slip may be included. On | | | | Field placing are crucial to cricket strategy. Astute |
| the leg-side of the pitch, there is a leg slip position | | | | captains can manipulate their field to suit their |
| that is not often used. It is not typical practice to | | | | strategy. A common strategy is for a captain to |
| have more than one leg slip either. | | | | deliberate leave gaps in deep leg-side positions to |
| Gully is on the offside and is much squarer than third | | | | entice batsmen to play risky shots across the line of |
| slip, but behind the batter. On the leg-side of the | | | | the ball. Whether you're a player, commentator or |
| field, this position is appropriately called Leg Gully. | | | | spectator, knowledge of the oddly-named fielding |
| Third man is a deep offside position that is close to | | | | positions in cricket is critical to understanding the |
| the boundary but behind the slips and gully. Third | | | | sport. |
| man's parallel positions on the leg-side of the field are | | | | |