All Cricket Fielding Positions Explained with Diagram (2026)

Cricket has more named fielding positions than any other sport — over 30 distinct spots on the field, each with a specific name and tactical purpose. For new fans, the terminology can feel overwhelming. What exactly is a "silly mid-on"? Where does a "cow corner" fielder stand? Why is it called "the gully"?

This guide explains every fielding position in cricket, how the naming system works, and when captains deploy each position in T20, ODI, and Test matches.

How Cricket Fielding Positions Are Named

Every position name is built from a simple system of three elements:

1. Side of the Wicket

• Off side — the side the batsman faces when in stance (right of a right-hander)
• Leg side (on side) — behind the batsman (left of a right-hander)

2. Distance from the Bat

• Silly — extremely close, within 3–5 metres (e.g., silly point, silly mid-on)
• Short — close, about 10–15 metres (e.g., short leg, short cover)
• Standard — normal distance, 20–30 metres (e.g., mid-off, point)
• Deep / Long — on or near the boundary, 60–70 metres (e.g., deep square leg, long-on)

3. Angle from the Batsman

• Square — level with the batsman (90° to the pitch)
• Forward — in front of the batsman (towards the bowler)
• Backward — behind the batsman (towards the keeper)
• Fine — narrow angle, close to the line of the pitch
• Wide — further from the line of the pitch

Combine these elements and you get the position name: "deep backward square leg" = deep (boundary) + backward (behind square) + square leg (leg side, square).

All Fielding Positions — Explained

Close Catchers (Catching Positions Near the Bat)

Position	Where	Used When
Wicketkeeper	Behind the stumps	Always — the only mandatory fielding position
First slip	Next to keeper, off side	Pace and spin bowling; catches edges
Second/Third slip	Further along the slip cordon	New ball spells; aggressive bowling
Gully	Square of the wicket, off side, 5–10m	Pace bowling; catches cut shots
Leg slip	Next to keeper, leg side	Spin bowling; catches glances
Silly point	Very close, off side, just forward of square	Spin bowling; bat-pad catches
Silly mid-on	Very close, on side, forward	Spin bowling; bat-pad catches
Silly mid-off	Very close, off side, forward	Spin bowling; bat-pad catches
Short leg	Very close, leg side, just behind square	Spin bowling; bat-pad catches off front foot
Leg gully	Like gully but on leg side	Rare — for bouncers to tail-enders

Inner Ring (10–30 Metres from the Bat)

Position	Where	Used When
Point	Square of the wicket, off side	Standard defensive position
Cover	Between point and mid-off, off side	Most common fielding position; covers drives
Extra cover	Between cover and mid-off	Defensive setting against driving batsmen
Mid-off	Straight-ish, off side, near the bowler	Standard position; stops straight drives
Mid-on	Straight-ish, leg side, near the bowler	Standard position; stops straight drives
Midwicket	Between mid-on and square leg, leg side	Common attacking/defensive position
Square leg	Square of the wicket, leg side	Umpire stands here; common fielding spot
Forward short leg	Close, leg side, in front of square	Aggressive spin bowling field

Boundary Ring (Near the Rope)

Position	Where	Used When
Third man	Behind the keeper, off side, near boundary	Defensive; stops edges and late cuts
Deep point	Square, off side, on boundary	Death overs T20; covers cut shots
Deep cover	Cover region, on boundary	T20 death overs; ODI slog overs
Long-off	Straight, off side, on boundary	Defensive; prevents lofted drives
Long-on	Straight, leg side, on boundary	Defensive; prevents lofted drives
Deep midwicket	Midwicket region, on boundary	T20s; covers slog sweeps
Deep square leg	Square, leg side, on boundary	Death overs; covers pulls/hooks
Deep backward square leg	Behind square, leg side, boundary	Hook/pull protection
Fine leg	Behind square, leg side, narrow angle	Standard position for pace bowling
Deep fine leg	Like fine leg but on the boundary	Defensive; stops flicks and glances
Long leg	Between fine leg and square leg, boundary	Rare; combination position
Cow corner	Between deep midwicket and long-on	T20 favourite; covers cross-bat slogs

Key Fielding Positions by Format

Test Cricket

• Emphasis on catching positions: 2–3 slips, gully, short leg, silly point
• Fewer boundary riders — attacking fields aim for wickets
• The slip cordon is the defining feature of Test match fielding

ODI Cricket

• Powerplay overs (1–10): Only 2 fielders outside the 30-yard circle
• Middle overs (11–40): Maximum 4 outside the circle; covers and midwicket patrol
• Death overs (41–50): Boundary sweepers at long-on, deep midwicket, deep point

T20 Cricket

• Powerplay (1–6): Only 2 outside the circle; aggressive inner ring
• Middle overs (7–15): 4 outside; cow corner and deep midwicket become important
• Death overs (16–20): 5 outside the circle; deep point, long-on, deep midwicket, fine leg, third man

Uncommon Positions You Might Hear in Commentary

Position	What It Means
Fly slip	A slip fielder standing deeper than normal (10–15m back)
Bat-pad	Generic term for silly point or short leg — positioned for catches off the bat's edge onto the pad
Sweeper	A fielder patrolling the boundary on either side — "sweeping" the boundary line
Cow corner	The area between deep midwicket and long-on — named because cattle used to graze there on village grounds
Dolly position	Not a real position — refers to any easy catch regardless of where the fielder is standing

How Many Fielders Can Be Outside the Circle?

Format	Powerplay	Middle Overs	Death Overs
T20	Max 2 outside	Max 4 outside (overs 7–15) then 5	Max 5 outside
ODI	Max 2 outside (PP1)	Max 4 outside	Max 5 outside
Test	No circle restrictions	No restrictions	No restrictions

In all formats, a maximum of 11 fielders are on the field (including the bowler and wicketkeeper). The captain places the other 9 as they choose, within the format's restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called "gully"? The position sits in the "gully" — a narrow gap between the slip cordon and point. In old cricket terminology, a gully was a narrow passage or channel, which describes the gap this fielder patrols.

What is the hardest fielding position? Short leg is widely considered the most dangerous and difficult. The fielder stands 2–3 metres from the batsman, often without time to react. Strong reflexes and courage are essential.

Can the wicketkeeper stand on the off side? No — the wicketkeeper must stand wholly behind the stumps until the ball is delivered. After delivery, they can move anywhere. The keeper must also stand on the leg side of the stumps when the ball is on the off side and vice versa in practice, but the Laws only require them to be behind the stumps.

Why do some fielders wear helmets? Any fielder within 8 metres of the bat (silly point, short leg, silly mid-on) must wear a helmet under current ICC regulations. The rule was introduced after several serious injuries from bat-pad deflections.

What does "posting a man at cow corner" mean? It means placing a fielder at the deep midwicket/long-on boundary area to cut off cross-bat slog shots — very common in T20 cricket's death overs.