Positions in Cricket

A cricket team is made up of 12 players, but only 11 of those players take the field at a time. The last player remains off the field as back-up in case a player is injured. Nine fielders are not enough to defend an entire cricket field. So what position a fielder plays depends on the offensive or defensive tactics of the captain. The many possible positions are often confusing to a novice, but are easy enough to learn once their function is understood.

  1. Wicketkeeper

    • The wicketkeeper is positioned behind the wickets to catch all balls that pass the batsman. The wicketkeeper also helps by advising the captain about the batman's weaknesses.

    Bowler

    • The bowler delivers the ball to the wicketkeeper for the batsman.

    Slip Fielder

    • The slip fielder stands next to the wicket keeper. Their goal is to catch any fly balls that graze the bat. The slips must react quickly to take fast-moving catches that deflect off the bat.

    Cover Fielder

    • The cover fielder's purpose is to cut off potential boundary shots, and to throw the ball accurately over the stumps to the wicketkeeper.

    Third Man

    • Third man is a defensive fielding position responsible for covering a large area. Their objective is to prevent anything passing the gully or slip players from reaching the boundary. Third man is usually responsible for covering a large area.

    Gully

    • The gully fields driving shots hit hard off the face of the bat. A good gully reacts quickly and is ready to make incredible catches.

    Point

    • A very busy position, the point player fields hard-hit square cuts and drives off the bat face.

    Mid Off

    • The mid off is a good position for the captain so he can talk tactics with his bowler. This fielding position is for stopping quick singles and cutting off straight drives.

    Mid Wicket and Square Leg

    • Both of these fielding positions are primarily defensive positions for preventing quick singles and cutting off boundaries. They may also have an occasional sharp catch from misjudged pulls and hooks.