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Fielding in cricket is crucial for a team’s success. It involves players stopping runs, catching the ball, and fielding their positions effectively. Good fielding can turn matches around. Fielders must have quick reflexes, agility, and accurate throwing skills. They need to anticipate where the ball will go and position themselves accordingly.
Fielders are stationed all around the field, with specific roles like slips, gully, point, covers, mid-off, mid-on, mid-wicket, square leg, and fine leg. A dropped catch or a missed run-out can change the course of a game. Fielding drills and practices are thus integral parts of a cricket team’s training regimen. Each team has a fielding coach as well.
List of Cricket Fielding Positions
In cricket, a team comprises 11 players, including one bowler and one wicket-keeper, leaving nine other fielding positions. The arrangement of fielders is a strategic choice made by the team captain. Typically, the captain, sometimes in consultation with the bowler and team members, decides where each fielder will be positioned. Fielders can be relocated at any time except when the bowler is delivering the ball to the batsman.
Check out the various cricket fielding position names and their positions on the field.
Slips
Positioned behind the batsman on either side, slips are for catching edges off the bat.
Gully
Similar to slips but placed slightly wider, mainly to catch deflections off the bat that don’t go directly behind.
Point
Located behind square on the off side, point fielders cover the area between covers and gully, stopping hard-hit shots.
Read More: 10 Fastest Bowlers in The World
Cover
Positioned on the off side, cover fielders cover the area between point and mid-off, ready to field drives and cut shots.
Mid-off
Placed halfway between the bowler and the batsman, mid-off fielders stop straight shots hit along the ground.
Mid-on
Similar to mid-off but on the leg side, fielders here stop straight shots hit along the ground on the leg side.
Mid-Wicket
Positioned between mid-on and square leg, mid-wicket fielders cover the area on the leg side for shots played in that direction.
Square Leg
Positioned behind square on the leg side, square leg fielders cover the area between mid-wicket and fine leg.
Fine Leg
Positioned behind square on the leg side, fine leg fielders stop deflections off the bat on the leg side.
Long Leg
Placed on the boundary behind square leg, long leg fielders stop shots played on the leg side and retrieve the ball quickly to prevent runs.
Deep Point/Cover/Mid-Wicket
Fielders positioned on the boundary in respective areas to stop boundaries and retrieve the ball quickly.
Third Man
Positioned behind the batsman on the off side, third man fielders are for catching edges or stopping deflections behind the wicketkeeper.
Long On/Long Off
Positioned on the boundary straight down the ground from the batsman, these fielders stop lofted shots and aim to prevent boundaries.
Deep Square Leg
Positioned on the boundary behind square leg, these fielders stop big hits on the leg side.
Backward Point
Placed behind square on the off side, backward point fielders cover the area behind point and gully.
Further Read: Who is the Best Cricketer in India?
Protective Gear in Cricket
Fielders have specific regulations regarding protective gear. Except for the wicket-keeper, fielders are generally not allowed to wear gloves or external leg guards. However, they can wear shin protectors, groin protectors (‘boxes’), and chest protectors underneath their clothing with umpire consent.
Fielders are permitted to wear a helmet and face guard, especially in close positions like silly point or silly mid-wicket. If the ball touches a fielder’s headgear when not worn, five penalty runs are awarded to the batting side. This rule was established in the 19th century to prevent unfair practices.
Ways in Which a Fielder Can Dismiss a Batsman
Caught: A fielder catches the ball hit by the batsman before it touches the ground, resulting in the batsman being dismissed.
Bowled: The bowler hits the stumps with the ball, either directly or after it deflects off the batsman’s body or bat, resulting in the batsman being out.
Run-out: A fielder throws the ball to hit the stumps while the batsmen are attempting to run between the wickets, and the batsman fails to reach the crease.
Stumped: The wicket-keeper collects the ball and removes the bails while the batsman is out of their crease and not attempting a run.
LBW: The ball strikes the batsman’s leg before hitting the bat, and the umpire judges that the ball would have hit the stumps if the leg obstruction wasn’t there.
FAQs about Cricket Fielding Positions
Q) Who is the best fielder in cricket?
A) Some of the best fielders in cricket are Jonty Rhodes, Herschelle Gibbs, Ab de Villiers, Ricky Ponting and Paul Collingwood among others.
Q) Who is the best fielder in the IPL?
A) From among the currently active players in the IPL, the likes of Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja are among the best fielders.
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