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Cricket Rules - Fielding Position
There are 10 Places to Field
The most specialised position within the team and
the most used is the wicketkeeper. The keeper stands behind the
stumps, although further back if the bowler quicker. They often
stand right up to the stumps to a slower bowler to try and stump the
batsmen.
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Reactions have to be quick in the slips as this is
where the lots of catches are taken. Positioned on the off-side
behind the wicket, first slip is alongside the wicketkeeper, with
second slip, third slip etc following in the same direction. First
slip is normally a foot or so behind the wicketkeeper . This is
because the ball flies faster off the edge when the ball goes
finer..
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Another close catching position just behind square off the wicket on
the off side, the gully fielder also has to have quick reactions.
Most chances that will come in this area will be from forceful shots
from the batsman that haven't been kept down, so the ball is likely
to be travelling very quickly.
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This position is usually where you'll find the best fielder in the
team. Found square of the wicket on the off-side, it's an important
position for stopping forceful shots off the back foot like the
square cut. There are a few different positions in that area:
• Backward point
• Silly point
Backward point is slightly behind square of the wicket, while silly
point, as the name suggests, is not a great place to field. Most
commonly used when a spin bowler is in action to snap up any bat-pad
chances, it involves standing just a couple of yards from the
batsman, square of the wicket on the off-side. They're often jumping
around trying to protect themselves when the batsman plays a big
shot on the off-side.
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The cover area runs from point all the way round to mid-off and is
another important off-side position. Again it's normally where
you'll find one of the better fielders in the side who'll be trying
to stop drives off the front or back foot. There are a few different
positions in the covers:
• Extra cover
• Short extra Cover
• Deep extra Cover
Extra cover is positioned between the regular cover fielder and
mid-off. If that fielder is then brought into a catching position
closer to the wicket then they become the short extra cover fielder.
Deep extra cover is a more defensive position out on the boundary.
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Third man is generally a run-saving position behind the wicketkeeper
on the off-side. The fielder is usually 45 degrees to the wicket
around on the boundary. It covers a large area - anything that goes
through the slip and gully area. Often Test teams don't have a third
man because they prefer to attack than defend.
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Usually an area where bowlers hope to get a bit of rest between
overs. The position is on the leg side at around 45 degrees to the
wicket. Although it's not the most glamorous position to field in,
it is an important run-saving area.
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A captain will often field at mid-off as it's the position closest
to the bowler and the best place to encourage and talk to the
bowler. The mid-off fielder has the job of trying to cut off the
straight drive and has to stay on their toes to prevent quick
singles from being taken. There are a couple of different positions
in this area:
•
Deep mid-off
• Silly mid-off
• Long off
Mid-off is normally positioned about 25-30 yards from the batsman,
while silly mid-off is in close to the batsman looking for bat-pad
chances. Deep mid-off is usually three-quarters of the way from the
boundary, while long-off is right out on the rope. Similar positions
on the leg or on side are known as mid-on, deep mid-on etc.
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Mid-wicket is positioned on the leg side, between square leg and
mid-on, roughly between 45-60 degrees from the bat. It's generally a
run-saving area rather than an attacking position. But except a few
top-edged pulls your way if you're fielding here
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As its name suggests, this position is square of the wicket on the
leg side, next to where the second umpire stands. There are a few
variations in this position:
• Deep square leg
• Short Leg
• Backward square
Deep square leg is back on the boundary, while at backward square
you would be standing slightly behind the line of the wicket. Short
leg is a position usually given to the youngest member of the
fielding side. It's the unfortunate honour of standing just yards
from the bat on the leg-side. Reactions have to be very sharp, but
the fielder must wear a helmet and shinguards.
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