Cricket, just like soccer, hockey, and rugby, requires 11 members per side. When the team takes the field during their bowling innings, the 11 fielders take up positions all around the cricket field, giving rise to numerous types of cricket fielding position names. So, with a maximum of 11 fielders allowed on the field, how many cricket fielding names can exist?

Well, the truth is not as straightforward as it may seem at first. The introduction of cricket fielding positions originated sometime in the beginning of the 18th century. As the game evolved, so did the cricket fielding positions in cricket. However, it would be naive to assume that, due to a maximum of 11 fielders on the field, only the exact 11 fielding positions would remain.

To the best of our knowledge, there are between 30 to 35 uniquely named cricket fielding positions, according to experts and educational resources. But for the sake of clarity and convenience, we begin our exploratory journey by getting ourselves acquainted with the 10 fundamental fielding positions names in cricket:

Off-Side Field	Leg-Side Field
Slips	Square Leg
Gully	Fine Leg
Point	Mid-wicket
Cover	Cow Corner
Mid-off	Mid-on

In this guide, we will offer you a detailed clarification on all possible cricket field positions. You will be seeing yourself going on a ride, unlocking a myriad of fielding positions all around the ground, spanning from off to the leg side of a batter.

Cricket Fielding Position Names: Understanding the Ground Layout

Before we enhance our understanding of cricket field positions, let’s first begin our learning process by understanding what a cricket field typically looks like. In an ideal world, the shape of a cricket ground is not completely circular in nature. In fact, the shape of the cricket field is mostly circular or oval-shaped.

As depicted in the diagram above, the average diameter of a cricket ground ranges between 137 and 150m, stretching from left to right, or vice versa. The pitch is situated at the very heart of the ground. The moment a right-handed batter takes guard, the off-side and the leg-side of the field are determined.

Quick rundown of the following terms:

• Off-side: For a right-handed batter, the off-side constitutes almost half of the field in front of a batter as they face the bowler, located on their right side. It’s often the zone away from the legs, generally considered the dominant side for shots like cover drive and cut.
• Leg-side: The leg side, or on-side, is the half of the cricket field behind a batter’s body, corresponding to their non-dominant hand. For a right-hander, the left side of the cricket pitch. Favourable shots in this zone are pull, slog-sweep, and the flick shot.
• Behind square: This is the zone which is situated behind the batter standing upright in his/her stance. This region covers the entire region of the cricket field behind a batter, stretching from off to leg. According to the no ball regulations, only two fielders can be placed behind square on the leg side of a right-handed batter.
• Straight: This region is situated beyond both ends of the pitch, occupying an imaginary straight path in the middle of the ground. Usually, it’s the keeper and the bowler who occupy this position on the cricket field.

Cricket Fielding Positions for a Right Handed Batsman: Exploring the Off-Side Fielding Positions

Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the off-side field layout, it’s time to get up to speed with off-side fielding positions in cricket. All fielding positions in cricket on the off side are strategically placed to cut off runs and create catching opportunities.

The off-side fielding positions name in cricket can be categorized under three main categories as listed below:

Close Catching (Infield)

• Slip Cordon: The slip cordon is positioned behind the batter, next to the wicketkeeper, and on the off side. It’s a textbook test field position which is often viewed as a primary mode of attack from a bowling team’s perspective. Slip fielders are placed to catch edges from fast bowlers, making this one of the most important fielding positions name in cricket for dismissals. At present, the slip cordon can accommodate up to 3 fielders.
• Gully: Another high-traffic fielding position name under test fielding positions, is the gully. The gully is located slightly wider than the slip, but still behind square on the off side. Gully is ideal for catching thicker edges that don’t carry to the slips, forming an attacking component of cricket fielding positions.
• Point: The point is arguably an indispensable part of test fielding positions. The point region in cricket is considered one of the hottest fielding positions in cricket. Positioned square of the wicket on the off side, usually inside the circle, the point fielders stop cut shots and square drives, playing a crucial role in saving runs.
• Short third: This position would just be behind where the slip cordon might be placed, but well and truly inside the inner ring.

Inner Ring

• Cover: Placed on the off side and slightly in front of square, the cover is one of the most active types of cricket positions, responsible for stopping cover drives and quick singles.
• Extra cover: Located between cover and mid-off, the extra cover fielding position cuts off lofted drives and powerful shots, making it vital in both defensive and attacking setups.
• Mid-off: Positioned straight but slightly toward the off side, near the bowler. Mid-off is important for stopping straight drives and often plays a leadership role in organizing all fielding positions in cricket.

Boundary Positions

• Deep point: Placed near the boundary square on the off side. Deep point prevents boundaries from cut shots and square drives, especially in limited-overs formats.
• Deep cover: Located near the boundary in front of square on the off side. This position is used to stop powerful cover drives and reduce scoring opportunities.
• Deep third man: Positioned fine behind the batter on the off side boundary. The third man is crucial for stopping edges that fly past the slips, acting more as a safety net in modern cricket fielding positions.

Cricket Fielding Positions for a Right Handed Batsman: Exploring the Leg Side Fielding Positions

Leg-side fielding positions in cricket are crucial for controlling scoring areas where batters often play aggressive shots like flicks, pulls, and hooks. These cricket positions on the leg side are typically used to prevent boundaries and create catching opportunities, especially against short-pitched or straighter deliveries.

The leg-side fielding positions in cricket can be categorized under three main categories as listed below:

Close Catching

• Leg slip: The leg slip is considered one of the classical forms of test fielding positions, primarily set for a spin bowler. Positioned behind the batter on the leg side, close to the wicketkeeper. Leg slip is used to catch faint edges or glances off the bat, making it a specialized but important cricket field position in cricket.
• Short fine leg: This cricket ground fielding position was devised to block the flick shot and prevent batters from scoring runs. A typical short fine leg fielder is stationed behind square, on the batter’s leg side but within the inner ring at nearly 45 degrees.
• Short leg: Another fine example of test fielding positions is the short leg. Might sound comical to some, but the short leg fielding position is placed very close to the batter on the leg side, usually in front of square. The fielders at the short leg fielding position are in place to catch deflections off the bat or pad, especially against spin bowling, making it one of the most dangerous yet impactful cricket fielding positions.

Inner Ring

• Mid-wicket: Located on the leg side between square leg and mid-on. Mid-wicket is a key cricket fielding position name used to stop flicks and powerful on-side shots.
• Square leg: Positioned square of the wicket on the leg side. Square leg fielders play an important role in cutting off pull shots and quick singles, making it one of the most commonly used cricket positions.
• Mid-on: Placed straight and slightly toward the leg side, near the bowler. Mid-on helps stop straight drives and works closely with mid-off to control scoring areas, making it central to all fielding positions in cricket.
• Backward square leg: Placed inside the 30-yard circle, but between fine leg and square leg.

Boundary Positions

Deep Fine Leg: Positioned behind square on the leg side, near the boundary. Fine leg is crucial for stopping glances, edges, and hook shots that travel fine, making it a defensive backbone in modern-day cricket fielding positions.

Deep Square Leg: Located on the boundary square of the wicket on the leg side. This position is used to stop pull and hook shots, especially in limited-overs cricket.

Deep Mid-Wicket: Positioned on the boundary between mid-wicket and long-on on the leg side. Deep mid-wicket is a key cricket fielding position name used to stop powerful slog shots and flicks, making it an important part of modern cricket fielding positions.

Cow Corner: Located on the leg side boundary between deep mid-wicket and long-on, slightly wider than mid-wicket. Cow corner is one of the more aggressive fielding positions name in cricket, often targeted by batters for big hits, so fielders here are placed to prevent boundaries in an attacking leg side fielding setup in cricket.

Long-on: Placed straight down the ground on the leg side boundary. Long-on is responsible for stopping lofted shots and big hits, making it a key position in both attacking and defensive field setups.

Straight Cricket Fielding Position Names

These types of cricket fielding positions are usually rare, but depending on the format and the game situation, the fielding team captain can opt to have fielders protecting the straight boundary dimensions. These typically include straight hit zones, which are primarily occupied by the keeper and the bowler. But the fielding captain can choose to add an extra fielder, just behind the bowler or the keeper, to limit a batter’s ability to score off straight drives.

Fielding positions in cricket such as long on, long off, deep fine leg, and deep third man, are closely associated with straight cricket fielding positions.

Full Cricket Fielding Positions Chart Revealed

A cricket fielding positions chart is one of the easiest ways to understand how all positions are arranged on the ground. Instead of memorizing each position individually, a visual chart helps you connect every role to its location relative to the batter and the pitch.

When looking at the cricket fielding chart, you’ll notice how all fielding positions in cricket are divided on the basis of the ground layout, dictated by a batter’s off side, leg side, and straight regions. This structure makes it easier to identify gaps, set attacking fields, or defend boundaries depending on the match situation.

For beginners, studying a cricket fielding positions chart also simplifies learning the difference between similar-sounding positions like deep square leg and fine leg, or cover and extra cover. It provides a complete picture of all fielding positions in cricket, helping players understand not just names, but also their purpose.

FAQ: Cricket Fielding Positions

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