There are a variety of positions in the sport of cricket. It is quite a complex sport, although it does share some similarities with baseball. Without further ado, here is an explanation of all cricket fielding positions.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Wicketkeeper

The first position to discuss is the wicketkeeper. The wicketkeeper positions themselves behind the stumps located on the striker’s end. Additionally, wicketkeepers are allowed to wear external leg guards and gloves. This sets the wicketkeeper apart from any other fielder in the sport of cricket.

The wicketkeeper catches the ball in the event the batsman misses. They also stump the batsman out if the batsman moves too far away from the popping crease. Wicketkeepers are essential for cricket.

The Slips

The cricket team’s best catchers often play in these positions. A slip fielder stands behind the wicketkeeper and they are typically in a diagonal line toward the first slip, second slip, and onward. Slip fielders help the team catch the ball.

Gully

This position serves as an extension of the line that the slips create. The gully fielder is on the off side of the field. They position themselves so they are at an angle to the team’s wicketkeeper. Gully fielders are usually somewhat farther from the batsman.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Leg Slip

The Leg Slip is right behind the batsman and to the leg side, parallel to the wickets’ line. A fielder may stand in this position if the bowling attack focuses on leg spin. Also, a fielder may stand here if the batsman tends to glance balls off of their pads into this area.

Silly Mid-Off and Silly Point

A player in the Silly Point position stands to the offside of the batsman. They are only a few yards from the bat. The Silly Mid-Off position is also on the batsman’s off side, but they are closer to the offside than someone in the Silly Point position. Also, the name of this position comes from the supposed foolishness of standing that close to the batsman.

Short Leg

The Short Leg fielder stands behind the leg side square. They are close to the batsman. Their main role is to catch the ball if the batsman misses or uses the pad to deflect the ball.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Silly Mid-On

The Silly Mid-On fielder stands on the batsman’s leg side. This mirrors the Silly Mid-Off position. Additionally, the main role of the Silly Mid-On fielder is to start a run-out or catch the ball after a miscued shot.

Point

The Point fielder is square of the wicket, between 15 and 20 yards from the batsman. They are on the batsman’s off side. Also, Point fielders typically play a role in run-out chances and catching.

Backward Point

The Backward Point is another one of the most crucial cricket fielding positions. This position is somewhat wider and right behind the Point fielder. Backward Point fielders intercept the batsman’s steers, glides, and cuts.

Mid-Off

This fielding position is on the batsman’s off side. Also, a Mid-Off fielder is usually halfway to the field’s boundary, meaning they are basically opposite the bowler. This fielder is crucial for catching, usually when the batsman attempts to loft the ball but doesn’t connect with sufficient power.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Extra Cover and Cover

The Cover position is on the batsman’s off side. They are closer to the front but somewhat squarer than the Mid-Off position. The cover fielder has to intercept driving shots the batsman plays through the off side.

The Extra Cover position is between the mid-off and point positions on the batsman’s off side. Additionally, it is best to understand the batsman’s off-side play style to make the Extra Cover fielder more effective.

Mid-On

The Mid-On position is on the batsman’s leg side. Also, the Mid-On fielder is usually parallel to the bowler and halfway to the aforementioned boundary. This makes it similar to the Mid-Off position.

Backward Square Leg and Square Leg

The Square Leg position is on the batsman’s leg side and square of the wicket. They are usually between 15 and 30 yards from the batsman. They help intercept shots that the batsman hits powerfully off their pads.

The Backward Square Leg is also on the batsman’s leg side, but somewhat behind. The Backward Square Leg fielder intercepts pull or hook shots hit following a short-pitched delivery. Also, they help out when the batsman frequently deflects the ball behind the leg side square.

Mid Wicket

The mid-wicket position is on the batsman’s leg side, but closer to the team’s bowler and between Mid-On and Square Leg. Mid-wicket fielders help intercept shots played into the field’s leg side.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Fine Leg

Also, the Fine Leg position is closer to the boundary’s line and on the batsman’s leg side. The Fine Leg fielder is often directly behind the batsman. Additionally, their main responsibility is to intercept balls the batsman glances off their pads or deflects down the leg side.

Fly Slip

This is a less conventional position. The Fly Slip position is on the batsman’s off side and closer to the boundary line compared to traditional Slip positions. Also, putting a Fly Slip fielder is usually a strategic move to counteract the batsman edging the ball frequently with sufficient power to make it past the regular slip cordon.

Cricket Fielding Positions: Third Man

This position is usually closer to the boundary line and on the leg side. Also, the Third Man fielder intercepts shots that were deflected or edged on the off-side behind square.

Deep Positions

These deep positions are in the same location relative to the batsman and bowler as their namesake positions. However, they are close to the boundary line and try to prevent boundaries. Some of these positions include Deep Point, Deep Fine Leg, and Deep Mid-Wicket.

Long Leg

The Long Long position is on the batsman’s leg side, but closer to the field’s boundary line. This position is right behind the batsman. However, the fielder is farther away from the batsman and wider compared to the Fine Leg position.

Cow Corner

The Cow Corner position is closer to the boundary line between long-on and mid-wicket. This is one of the more unconventional cricket fielding positions. Usually, a fielder is in this position if the batsman tends to hit powerful shots during limited-overs cricket.

That concludes our explanation of all cricket fielding positions.