Cricket guide · all formats · 2026 edition
Cricket field names confused you once — not anymore ☕
Alright, pour the chai and sit down because this is the guide I genuinely wish someone had handed me when I first started watching cricket properly. You are watching a match.
A brilliant catch is pouched and the commentator shouts "Sensational grab at backward point!" and you have absolutely no idea where backward point even is on that giant oval of green. Or the captain strolls up mid-over, has a quiet word with his fast bowler, and suddenly moves a fielder to somewhere called "cow corner" and you are left thinking, what in the world is a cow corner?
Yar, you are not alone. This happens to millions of cricket fans every single day. And here is the honest truth once you learn the fielding positions, the game transforms completely in front of your eyes. You stop watching eleven players standing around and start reading the captain's mind. You understand why a batter chose to play that shot. You see the trap that was set three overs ago finally sprung. Cricket is chess played on a green oval and the fielding positions are the pieces on the board.
Cricket has over 35 officially named fielding positions. Eleven players are on the field at any time the bowler and wicketkeeper are essentially fixed, which means the captain places the remaining nine players wherever they like, within the laws of the game. Every single placement is a decision. Every field change is a conversation between captain and bowler about how they plan to get the next wicket or stop the next boundary. This guide explains every major position where it is, what it does, and why a captain uses it. Let us start from the very basics and build up to the full picture.
The essential numbers — what you need to know first
Total fielders
11 on field
The golden rule of cricket field positions
Everything is described from a right-handed batter's perspective. The off side is the side in front of their legs where they face the bowler. The leg side (also called the on side) is the side behind their legs. Three simple modifiers tell you the exact spot: fine means close to the batter's line, square means perpendicular to the pitch, and deep means near the boundary. So "deep square leg" decodes to: near the boundary, perpendicular to the pitch, on the leg side. Once this click every single position name becomes logical.
Off side vs leg side — the two halves explained
The field is split down the middle by an imaginary line running from one boundary to the other through the stumps. This line divides every position into either the off side or the leg side. Here is every major position sorted into its correct half save this list, your cricket watching changes today.
Off side positions
- 1st, 2nd & 3rd slip
- Gully
- Point
- Backward point
- Cover & extra cover
- Mid-off
- Long-off (boundary)
- Third man (boundary)
- Silly point
- Sweeper cover
Leg side positions
- Leg slip
- Short leg
- Forward short leg
- Square leg
- Mid-wicket
- Mid-on
- Fine leg (boundary)
- Deep mid-wicket
- Deep square leg
- Long-on & cow corner
The cricket field — visual position map
Every position has a home on this oval. Blue markers are off-side positions, green are leg-side, red are the danger-zone close catchers, and the amber dot is the bowler. The dashed circle is the 30-yard inner ring the most important invisible line in limited-overs cricket.
Pro tip from the author
The dashed oval on the diagram is the 30-yard circle the most important invisible line in limited-overs cricket. During powerplay overs, the fielding side must keep at least seven fielders inside it by law. This is exactly why batters attack so hard in the first six overs of a T20 fewer boundary riders means bigger gaps and more scoring opportunities. Understanding the circle changes how you watch every single powerplay you ever see.
Zone 1 — the danger zone: close catchers
within 5 metres of the batter
These fielders stand just a few steps from the batter. They exist for one reason only to take edges, bat-pad catches, and deflections. This zone requires real courage. Standing at short leg without blinking while a Test batter faces a 90mph delivery is one of the bravest things a cricketer can do. These positions are most common in Test cricket and during the first spell of new-ball bowling in any format.
Wicket-keeperBoth sides
Directly behind the stumps, every ball
The only position a captain cannot move. Takes every delivery not hit. Responsible for stumpings, catches off edges, and directing the field. The wicketkeeper is the captain's eyes behind the batter.
1st slipOff side
Just outside the keeper, behind the batting crease
First line of defence for outside edges off fast bowlers. The safest hands in the team usually stand at first slip. Rahul Dravid took 210 catches in Tests a record that stands today and first slip was his home.
2nd and 3rd slipOff side
Arc extending outward from first slip
Catches edges that go wider or carry faster past first slip. Teams set two, three, even four slips early in Test matches when the ball is swinging. The full slip cordon is the most iconic sight in Test cricket.
GullyOff side
Squarer than slip, behind the line of the wicket
Catches square edges and upper cuts. The name comes from old English a narrow gap or channel describing the gap between slip and point that this fielder patrols. Gully catches arrive blazing fast and require sharp, instinctive reflexes.
Short legLeg side
2–3 metres from the batter on the leg side
Widely regarded as the most dangerous fielding position in cricket. Stands in full protective gear helmet, pads, box waiting for bat-pad deflections from spin bowling. The batter is hitting toward you. You are not looking away.
Silly pointOff side
Very close to the batter on the off side, forward of the wicket
The name is accurate it looks absolutely silly to stand this close. Used by spin bowlers hunting bat-pad catches on the off side. Full protection is mandatory. It takes a very specific type of personality to volunteer for this position.
Leg slipLeg side
Mirror of 1st slip, but on the leg side
Used when off-spin is turning sharply or when fast bowlers work the short ball at the batter's body. Catches fine glances and edges on the leg side. Rarer than regular slip but devastatingly effective when set correctly.
Forward short legLeg side
Close in, forward of square, leg side
Positioned forward of short leg to catch miscued pull shots and short-pitched deliveries struck straight to the leg. Crouches low, reacts in milliseconds. Requires the kind of bravery most people never have to show.
Zone 2 — the inner ring: mid-range positions
15–30 metres from the batter
These fielders live inside the 30-yard circle. They stop singles, intercept cover drives, create run-out opportunities, and take catches from lofted shots. During powerplay overs in T20 and ODI cricket, most of the field must stay in this zone. This is where the game's most athletic fielders do their best work Jadeja, Shadab Khan, Maxwell. This zone is always busy.
PointOff side
Square to the batter on the off side, inside the ring
One of the most active positions on the field. Intercepts cut shots, dives to save ones, and is always in line for a run-out. Historically the home of the best fielders Jonty Rhodes lived at point. Jadeja owns it now.
Backward pointOff side
Behind square on the off side, between point and gully
Covers the gap between point and gully for late cuts and pulled-back cut shots. A creative captain's position England famously used deep backward point during the 2005 Ashes to contain Australian strokeplay and it worked brilliantly.
CoverOff side
Between point and mid-off, inside the ring
The cover drive is cricket's most celebrated shot — and cover is the fielder assigned to spoil it. Lots of diving, sprinting, and run-out moments. An athletic cover fielder saves a conservative estimate of eight to ten runs every single innings.
Extra coverOff side
Wider than cover, between cover and mid-off
Plugs the gap that right-handed batters love to exploit with a full, flowing off-side drive. A quiet position but vitally important many easy singles dry up simply because extra cover is standing in exactly the right spot.
Mid-offOff side
Straight down the ground, off side of the bowler
Stops straight drives, backs up the bowler's end, and is permanently threatening a direct-hit run-out on the striker's side. Against spin bowlers, mid-off is often in realistic catching territory for over-the-top lofted shots.
Mid-onLeg side
Straight down the ground, leg side of the bowler
The mirror of mid-off. Stops drives back down the leg side of the pitch, backs up the non-striker's end, and patrols the inner circle on the on side. A sharp throw from mid-on has produced some of cricket's greatest run-outs.
Mid-wicketLeg side
Leg side, halfway between square leg and mid-on
One of the most attacked areas in T20 cricket. Batters love flicking through mid-wicket or hitting over it. An athletic, quick fielder here is essential a slow one leaking boundaries at mid-wicket can cost a team a match on its own.
Square legLeg side
Square to the batter on the leg side, inside the ring
Intercepts pull shots and flicks off the hip. You choose which side of the square leg umpire to stand and that small decision can be strategically important against batters who love the pull shot in a particular direction.
Pro tip from the author
Here is a simple cheat code for decoding any fielding position name you hear. If it says "deep" it is near the boundary. If it says "short" it is close to the batter. If it says "square" it is perpendicular to the pitch at roughly 90 degrees. If it says "fine" it is close to the batter's line of movement. Combine these four words with off side and leg side and you can decode every single position name in cricket, even ones you have never heard before. That is the whole system.
Zone 3 — boundary riders: the deep fielders
near the boundary rope
These are the athletes patrolling the rope. Their job is to stop boundaries, take high catches off attempted sixes, and return the ball quickly to prevent overthrows. In the death overs of a T20 match, almost the entire field pushes back to this zone. You need genuine pace, aerial ability, and nerves of steel to field here when the game is on the line in the final over.
Fine legLeg side
Boundary, behind the wicket on the leg side
Saves leg-side glances, deflections, and edges that bypass the wicketkeeper. One of the most consistently used boundary positions in all formats. Nothing frustrates a pace bowler more than a gap at fine leg in the final over a good fine leg fielder saves multiple boundaries per match.
Third manOff side
Boundary, behind the wicket on the off side
Saves late cuts, top edges, and edges that carry past the slip cordon. A run-saving specialist position for pace bowlers and the fielder here must cover enormous ground quickly because the angle of deflected shots can be wildly unpredictable.
Long-offOff side
Straight boundary, off side of the pitch
The classic catching position for lofted off-side drives. When a set batter decides to clear the rope, long-off is the primary target. A tall fielder with a reliable vertical leap is the ideal candidate David Miller at long-off is a captain's dream.
Long-onLeg side
Straight boundary, leg side of the pitch
The mirror of long-off. Catches sixes hit back down the ground on the leg side. Long-on and long-off together cover the straight hitting zones they are the two most important boundary positions for spin bowlers and for last-over T20 survival situations.
Deep mid-wicketLeg side
Leg-side boundary, between square leg and long-on
Also known as cow corner cricket's most entertainingly named position. A massive hitting zone in T20 cricket. The fielder here takes the highest proportion of big-hit catches in the entire format. David Miller of South Africa is the finest boundary fielder at this position in the world right now.
Deep square legLeg side
Square leg position pulled back to the boundary
Stationed here against pull-shot specialists. Batters who love to hit horizontal across the line and square on the leg side will find this fielder waiting. Essential in the final two overs of T20 chases when batters start swinging freely.
Sweeper coverOff side
Off-side boundary between point and long-off
A modern ODI and T20 invention. Sweeps the boundary for cut shots and lofted drives hit through the off side. In the death overs, a sweeper cover is essential without one, the off side becomes a free scoring zone for any batter with a good cut or lofted drive.
Cow cornerLeg side
Deep leg side, between deep mid-wicket and long-on
Cricket's most legendary position name. The area where sloggers aim when they swing hard across the line with zero technical intention. If a shot lands in cow corner congratulations, it is almost always a six. The name is believed to come from the fact that cows used to graze in that corner of village cricket grounds.
How captains actually use all of this — the 4 field settings
Knowing every position is step one. Understanding how captains arrange them is where real cricket intelligence lives. Every field change mid-over is a captain responding to what they are seeing a batter's weakness, a bowler's plan, or the match situation shifting. Here are the four main field settings every cricket fan needs to know.
Attacking field
New ball · new batter · chasing wickets
Multiple slips, gully, short leg, silly point. Few boundary riders. High risk easy to score fours but enormous wicket-taking potential. The classic Test match opening field on a green surface.
Defensive field
Death overs · protecting totals
Five or more boundary riders. No slips. Inner ring plugged. Used in T20 death overs and when a batter is completely set. The goal shifts from taking wickets to simply containing. Every over survived is a victory.
Spread field
Middle overs · set batters
Balanced mix of inner-ring and boundary fielders. Plugs the most obvious gaps without going fully defensive. The most common field setting through the middle overs of any ODI or T20 match.
Powerplay field
First 6 overs in T20 and ODI
The law requires only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle. Creates massive gaps in the outfield. Teams use mid-off, mid-on, point, cover, and square leg all positioned inside the ring giving batters the license to attack freely.
Important fielding law every fan should know
Cricket law states that no more than two fielders can stand behind the wicket on the leg side at any time. If three or more are there when the ball is delivered, the umpire will call a no-ball. This law was introduced after England's controversial Bodyline Ashes series of 1932–33, when Harold Larwood bowled at batters' bodies and packed the leg side with catchers. It is a piece of history written permanently into the Laws of Cricket and it affects field-setting decisions in every single match played today.
Quick reference — all positions at a glance
Every major fielding position in one scrollable table. Swipe left on mobile to see all columns.
Swipe left on mobile for full table
| Position | Side | Zone | Primary role | Best format |
|---|
| Wicket-keeper | Both | Close | Stumpings, edge catches | All formats |
| 1st slip | Off side | Close | Outside edges | Test, ODI |
| 2nd & 3rd slip | Off side | Close | Wide edges | Test mainly |
| Gully | Off side | Close | Square edges | Test, ODI |
| Short leg | Leg side | Close | Bat-pad catches | Test |
| Silly point | Off side | Close | Bat-pad deflections | Test |
| Leg slip | Leg side | Close | Leg-side edges | Test, ODI |
| Point | Off side | Inner ring | Cut shots, run-outs | All formats |
| Backward point | Off side | Inner ring | Late cuts | All formats |
| Cover | Off side | Inner ring | Cover drives, run-outs | All formats |
| Extra cover | Off side | Inner ring | Off-side gap plug | ODI, T20 |
| Mid-off | Off side | Inner ring | Straight drives | All formats |
| Mid-on | Leg side | Inner ring | Straight drives | All formats |
| Mid-wicket | Leg side | Inner ring | Flicks, on drives | All formats |
| Square leg | Leg side | Inner ring | Pull shots | All formats |
| Fine leg | Leg side | Deep | Leg glances, deflections | All formats |
| Third man | Off side | Deep | Late cuts, top edges | All formats |
| Long-off | Off side | Deep | Lofted off drives | ODI, T20 |
| Long-on | Leg side | Deep | Lofted leg drives | ODI, T20 |
| Deep mid-wicket | Leg side | Deep | Slog catches, high balls | T20, ODI |
| Deep square leg | Leg side | Deep | Pull shots on the rope | T20, ODI |
| Sweeper cover | Off side | Deep | Off-side boundary saves | T20, ODI |
| Cow corner | Leg side | Deep | Slog shots, big hits | T20 |
Final thought
Once you know the positions, cricket becomes a completely different game
The next time you watch a Test match and a captain silently moves a fielder from cover to extra cover between deliveries you will know exactly why. The next time a mid-wicket catch is pouched off a spinner you will see the trap that was set three overs earlier. The next time a batter is run out at the non-striker's end you will recognise the direct hit that Jadeja or Shadab Khan had been threatening all over. Cricket is chess played on a giant green board, and the fielding positions are the pieces. Learn them once, and you will genuinely never watch the game the same way again. From slip all the way to deep mid-wicket every position has a history, a purpose, and a story waiting to be read.
Frequently asked questions
How many fielding positions are there in cricket?
Cricket has 35+ officially named fielding positions, though only 11 players are on the field at any time. The captain places 9 of them anywhere on the field within the laws of the game.
What is the hardest fielding position in cricket?
Short leg is universally considered the most dangerous and difficult position the fielder stands just 2–3 metres from the batter and must react in a fraction of a second, often with the ball heading straight toward them.
What is the difference between off side and leg side?
The off side is the side in front of a right-handed batter's legs where they are facing the bowler. The leg side (or on side) is behind their legs. Every fielding position name is described relative to this split.
Why is the position called "gully" in cricket?
The position sits in a narrow gap between the slip cordon and point. In old English, a "gully" was a narrow passage or channel which perfectly describes the gap between these positions that the gully fielder patrols.
What is cow corner in cricket?
Cow corner is the deep leg-side area between deep mid-wicket and long-on where sloggers aim when swinging hard across the line. The name is believed to come from village cricket grounds where cows grazed in that corner of the field.
Can fielders change position during an over?
Yes, fielders can move between deliveries. However once the bowler begins their run-up, no fielder may change position. Any movement after that point results in a no-ball being called by the umpire.
What does "deep" mean in a fielding position name?
Deep means the fielder is positioned near the boundary rope, far from the batter. So "deep square leg" means a fielder close to the boundary, perpendicular to the pitch on the leg side.
Can the wicketkeeper stand on the off side?
No — the wicketkeeper must stand wholly behind the stumps until the ball is delivered. After the delivery is bowled, they may move anywhere on the field to complete a catch, stumping, or run-out.
Cricket explained desk by Everything is Game— field guide 2026
Cricket writer · sports blog
A lifelong cricket fan who believes the sport is best enjoyed when you truly understand what is happening on the field. Writing guides, position breakdowns, and tactical explainers that turn casual fans into genuine cricket thinkers one cup of chai at a time.
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