Cricket Field Positions Explained: Every Position and Fielding Rules

Cricket field positions are the named places where the 11 fielders stand, including the bowler and the wicket-keeper. The names tell you two things: which side of the pitch the fielder is on (off side or leg side) and how far from the batter they stand (close, in the ring, or on the boundary). This guide explains every common position and the fielding limits in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

Field restrictions from the ICC men’s playing conditions (clause 28, The Fielder) and the ODI/T20I powerplay rules. Checked 19 October 2026.

Off side and leg side first

For a right-handed batter, the off side is the side the batter faces when standing at the crease and the leg side is behind their legs. For a left-hander the two sides swap, so every fielder changes sides too. “Square” means level with the batter, “fine” means closer to the line of the pitch behind the batter, and “deep” or “long” means near the boundary.

Close catching positions

• Wicket-keeper: behind the stumps.
• Slips (first, second, third…): beside the keeper on the off side, waiting for edges.
• Gully: wider than the slips, around 45 degrees on the off side.
• Silly point and silly mid-off: very close in front of the batter on the off side, mostly against spin.
• Short leg (bat-pad) and leg slip: close on the leg side for catches off the pad or glove.

Inner ring positions

• Point: square on the off side.
• Cover and extra cover: in front of point, between point and mid-off.
• Mid-off: straight-ish on the off side, near the bowler.
• Mid-on: the leg-side mirror of mid-off.
• Mid-wicket: leg side, between mid-on and square leg.
• Square leg: level with the batter on the leg side.

Boundary (deep) positions

• Third man: deep, behind the slips on the off side.
• Deep point and deep cover (sweeper): on the off-side boundary.
• Long off and long on: straight boundary on either side of the bowler.
• Deep mid-wicket (cow corner nearby): leg-side boundary in front of square.
• Deep square leg and fine leg: leg-side boundary, square and behind the batter.

Rules that limit where fielders can stand

Typical fields

• New ball in a Test: three or four slips, a gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on and fine leg — attacking for edges.
• Spinner in a Test: slip, silly point, short leg, plus a sweeper or deep mid-wicket.
• Death overs in T20: five on the boundary, often long on, long off, deep mid-wicket, deep square leg and deep point or third man.

FAQ

How many fielders are there in cricket?

Eleven, including the bowler and the wicket-keeper, so the captain places nine others.

What is the difference between mid-on and mid-off?

Mid-off stands on the off side near the bowler; mid-on is the same spot on the leg side.

Why can’t a team put three fielders behind square on the leg side?

The limit stops packed leg-side fields of the kind used in the 1932–33 “Bodyline” series; today a third fielder there means a no-ball.

Related rule on this site: super over rules in cricket.