Fielding Positions

An overview of the field

18 Nov 2025

​🏏 Cricket Fielding Positions Summary

​🧤 The Specialist

1. ​Wicketkeeper: Stands behind the stumps. Catches balls missed by the batter, takes edge-catches, and performs stumpings.

​🎯 Close-Catching Infield (Catching positions, usually 5-15 yards)

1. ​Slips (1st, 2nd, etc.): Lined up behind the batter on the off-side to catch fine nicks/edges.
2. ​Gully: Squarer than the slips, on the off-side, for thicker edges.
3. ​Short Leg / Silly Point: Positions extremely close to the batter on the leg-side (Short Leg) or off-side (Silly Point), mainly for spin bowling catches.

​🛡️ Inner Ring (Infield, usually within the 30-yard circle)

1. ​Point: Square of the wicket on the off-side.
2. ​Cover / Extra Cover: In front of the wicket on the off-side.
3. ​Mid-Off / Mid-On: Straight down the pitch, near the bowler (Off on the off-side, On on the leg-side).
4. ​Mid-Wicket: On the leg-side, roughly in line with the non-striker's end.
5. ​Square Leg: Square of the wicket on the leg-side.

​🏃‍♂️ Outfield (Deep Fielders, near the boundary)

1. ​Long-Off / Long-On: Straight down the ground near the boundary.
2. ​Deep Mid-Wicket / Deep Cover / Deep Point: The inner-ring positions extended to the boundary.
3. ​Third Man: On the boundary behind the slips, often used to cut off edged shots.
4. ​Fine Leg: On the boundary behind the wicket on the leg-side.