🏏Cricket Fielding Positions Name & Location: The Ultimate Guide with Diagram (Explained)

 Cricket Fielding Positions Name & Location.

Cricket is not just about batting and bowling — fielding is equally important. Smart fielding can save runs, create pressure, and change the course of a match by creating wicket-taking opportunities. In fact, catches, run-outs, and boundary saves often decide the outcome of close games.

Whether you’re a beginner or an aspiring cricketer, understanding every fielding position — where it’s located and why it’s used — is essential. Let’s walk through the entire field, explaining positions, zones, and strategies in plain English.


1. Introduction: Why Fielding Matters

Fielding is more than just throwing the ball or stopping it. It’s a strategic discipline in cricket that:

  • Prevents runs — saving singles and boundaries.

  • Creates pressure — forcing the batter into mistakes.

  • Takes catches — securing wickets for the bowling team.

Captains decide the field based on:

  • The type of bowler (fast vs spin),

  • The batsman’s strengths and weaknesses,

  • The match situation.

Before learning positions, you should know two basic terms:

  • Off-side: The side of the field in front of the batsman’s bat for a right-hander.

  • Leg-side (or On-side): The side behind the batsman’s legs.




2. The 3 Main Zones of the Cricket Field

A cricket field can be mentally divided into three major zones based on distance from the batter:

🔹 Close-In Field

These fielders are very close to the batter, often within 10–15 yards. They are aggressive positions, meant to take catches if the batter edges or misplays the ball.

🔹 The 30-Yard Circle

This inner ring (about 30 yards from the stumps) is where fielders stop singles and quick runs. They also create pressure by restricting easy scoring opportunities.

🔹 The Boundary (Deep Fielders)

These are the outfield positions, close to the ropes or boundary line. Their main role is stopping fours and sixes and taking high-risk catches from lofted shots.



3. Behind the Wicket & Close-In (“The Cordon”)

These are tight fielding positions — usually set when the bowling side is on the attack, especially with fast bowlers.

Wicketkeeper (WK)

The most important fielder. Stands right behind the stumps, ready to catch the ball, stump the batter, or effect run-outs. The keeper is the only one allowed to wear gloves.

Slips (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.)

These fielders stand behind the bat on the off-side, next to the wicketkeeper. They catch edges that fly off the bat. You can have multiple slips form a slip cordon, especially with fast bowlers.

Gully

Positioned between the slips and point. Great for catching fast edges that fly wide of the slips.

Leg Slip

Similar to slips but on the leg-side. Used less often but helpful against aggressive shots on the on-side.

Silly Point

A close fielder positioned very close on the off-side near the batter’s eyes. This is a high-risk, high-reward catching position used especially against spin bowling.

Forward Short Leg

Situated close on the leg-side near the batter’s legs. Used to catch short pitched or defensive mistakes, especially from spinners.

4. The Off-Side Positions

These positions are crucial because many batters play powerful shots on the off-side:

Point

Located square on the off-side. Stops cut shots and square drives.

Backward Point

Slightly behind the usual point, catching edges or quick deflections.

Cover & Extra Cover

Fields drives between point and mid-off. Cover is key for stopping elegant cover drives while extra cover sits between cover and mid-off.

Mid-Off

Straight on the off-side, next to the bowler’s line. Stops straight drives and prevents easy singles.

Third Man

Placed near the boundary on the off-side, slightly behind the slips. Ideal for stopping edges that fly away from the slip cordon.



5. The On-Side / Leg-Side Positions

These positions handle shots behind the batter and on the leg-side:

Square Leg

Square to the batter on the leg side — perfect for stopping pulls and sweeps.

Backward Square Leg

Slightly behind square leg — capturing late glances and tricky shots.

Mid-Wicket

Between square leg and mid-on. A common catching area for mistimed leg-side shots.

Mid-On

Mirrors mid-off but on the leg side. Prevents straight hits played toward leg-side.

Fine Leg

Located near the boundary behind the batter on the leg side. Stops glances, hooks, and paddle sweeps.



6. The Boundary / Deep Fielders

Deep fielders defend the boundary and save big hits:

Long-Off

On the off-side boundary. Works to stop lofted drives down the ground.

Long-On

On the leg-side boundary — stops powerful on-side hits.

Deep Mid-Wicket

Near the leg-side boundary — perfect for deep hits and pull shots.

Deep Cover / Sweeper Cover

Deep boundary area on the off-side — stops big cover drives and boundary hits.

Cow Corner

A deep position on the leg side between deep mid-wicket and long-on. It’s named for where “cow shots” often land and is useful in limited-overs cricket.



7. Bonus: Fielding Restrictions

Modern limited-overs cricket (ODI and T20) have fielding restrictions designed to encourage scoring:

Powerplay Overs

Early overs (usually 1–10) allow only 2 fielders outside the 30-yard circle, forcing captains to keep more fielders inside to support bowlers.

Death Overs

In the final overs, teams often place up to 5 fielders on the boundary to prevent big shots from reaching the ropes.



8. Conclusion

Understanding fielding positions is a hallmark of cricket intelligence. It helps you read the game, understand captaincy tactics, and improve your own performance whether you’re playing or watching.

To recap:

  • Close-in positions are aggressive and wicket-oriented.

  • Mid-field positions balance run prevention and catch opportunities.

  • Deep fielders are boundary savers.

  • Fielding restrictions influence where fielders are placed in limited-overs cricket.

By mastering these positions and their roles, you’ll start seeing cricket in a whole new light.





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