Cricket is always one of the most interesting game. There are several terms in Cricket which is complicated and hard to remember like Cricket shots name, Cricket fielding positions, and many more. Fielding is very important in Cricket. The day has gone when a team can win without having good fielding skills.
Every Cricketer and Cricket fan must remember Cricket field position with its name. Cricket field position is often used by commentators and if we don’t remember this, we will be unable to understand what commentators are saying. These are some of the Cricket terms which are basic but always used in Cricket.
At the end of this post you will be able to remember and know all the Cricket fielding positions easily.
If you are looking for a quick overview then, you can look at the below image for a quick overview of the field position.
Cricket Fielding Positions For A Right Handed Batsman (Overveiw)
This image properly gives an overview about the field position for a right-handed batsman.
So, let’s get deeper into it.
Basics of Cricket Fielding Positions
Basically, the whole fielding is divided into three parts. They are as follows-:
1. Close Infield – It is the area within 15 yards. It is the closest area to the batsman and the fielders in this area are nearest to the batsman. This fielders are usually kept there for the main aim of getting wickets. They are kept to take catches. It is usually seen in test Cricket.
2. Infield – It is the area within 30 yards. This is the area between 15 and 30 yards. Fielders are kept here to stop singles. Fielders in this area are quick and fit. They are always ready to bend right or left as ball can come at any side.
3. Outfield – It is the area between 30 yard and boundary line. The fielders are kept to catch the ball and stop ball to cross the boundary line.
You can refer to the image given below for more details.
Some more important terms
1. Leg-side – The leg side area of a right handed batsman is called Leg-side.
2. Off-side – The side opposite to leg side or side off to a right-handed batsman.
List of Important Cricket Fielding Position
1. Wicket-keeper – It is the most important fielding position. It is the position behind batsman.
2. Slip – It is another important position. Fielder stands or fields flank to the wicket-keeper.
3. Leg Slip – It is the slip standing at the leg side of the batsman or at the left side of the wicket-keeper.
4. Gully – Player on the gully stands near the slip. In some cases, the distance might be more but usually, gully fielder stands near to the slip.
5. Silly Point – Silly point is the position very closer to the batsman at approximately 45 degree. Silly point stands hardly 1-2 metre away from the batsman.
6. Silly Mid-Off – Silly mid-off is also very closer to the batsman in the off-side. Silly mid-off stands nearer to haf of the pitch.
7. Silly Mid-On – It is the same but in the leg side of a right-handed batsman.
8. Leg Gully – It is the area in the leg side of he close-infield which is very closer to leg slip fielder.
9. Mid-On – It is the position in the leg-side where fielder is kept nearer to the 30-yard circle at approximately 15 degree.
10. Mid-Off – It is the position same as the mid-on except it is in off-side.
11. Extra Cover – This is the field position in the off-side. Fielder is kept at an approx angle of 45 degrees to the batsman.
12. Cover – It is almost same as extra cover but it is slightly away from the extra cover in the left side.
13. Point – It is almost straight to the left of the batsman. A fielder at point has to cover a long area.
14. Backward Point – It is almost same as point but it it is behind the line of wicket.
15. Short Third-Man – It is located in the off-side. It is slightly deeper than the slip.
16. Fly Slip – It is almost same as the short third man but it is slightly away from the short third man in the left side.
17. Fine Leg – It is almost same as the leg slip except that it is deeper than leg slip and very closer to the 30-yard circle.
18. Backward Square Leg – It is the position which is in same direction but deeper than the leg gully.
19. Square Leg – It is the position very closer to leg umpire.
20. Mid-Wicket – It is the mid of the leg side of 30-yard circle. It is very important position as many big shots are played in this direction.
21. Long On – It is a crucial position in the leg side. It is same as mid on but it is deeper than mid on.
22. Straight Hit – It is the position which is almost straight to the the batsman.
23. Long Off – It is the area same as mid off except that it is much deeper than mid off.
24. Deep Extra Cover – It is the same position as extra cover except that it is more deeper than extra cover and it is very closer to the boundary line.
25. Deep Cover – It is the position same as cover except that is is deeper than it.
26. Deep Point – It is the same position as the point but it is deeper than the point anc closer to the boundary.
27. Deep Backward Point – It is the same as backward point except that it is deeper than the backward point.
28. Third-Man – It is same as the short third man except that it is deeper than that.
29. Long Stop – It is the position which is deeper than wicket-keeper or it is straight behind the wicket-keeper.
30. Deep Fine Leg – It is same as the short fine leg except it is deeper than the short fine leg.
31. Long Leg – It is exactly deeper or behind the backward square leg.
32. Deep Square Leg – It is same as square leg but deeper than the square leg.
33. Deep Mid-Wicket – It is the position same as mid-wicket except that it is deeper than the mid-wicket.
34. Cow-Corner – It is the position in between the long on and deep mid-wicket.
This was the list of Cricket Fielding Position in an easy way. If you are a batsman then read this awesome article on batting against fast bowlers.
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