How to Understand Cricket Fielding Positions

Cricket is a complicated game and doesn't help it self with bizarre sounding terminology. Some of the most confusing are fielding positions. How many people can claim to know where to stand when asked to field at fine leg, third slip or gully? This article attempts to demystify these words and help you realize a cricket captain asking you to stand at silly point is not akin to fetching a left handed screw driver.

Instructions

    • 1

      Familiarise yourself with fielding positions at the fielding positions link in the resource section.

    • 2

      Understand the catching positions. These positions are taken close to the batsman. Behind the batsman is the wicket keeper and beside him the slips. These fielders are placed to take catches the batsman edges behind. Other close in positions such as silly point and short leg are placed to take catches just in front of the batsman.

    • 3

      Know the run saving positions. In cricket there is a thirty yard circle within or on the edge of which stands fielders such as, mid-wicket, mid-on and point. These fielders tend to be very agile as they are positioned to dive around and stop a batsman scoring runs. In a game you often see these fielders walking in as the bowler bowls to show the batsmen they're on their toes. Deep positions such as long on are placed to stop the batsman scoring 4s and 6s or to prevent him running a second or third run.

    • 4

      Remember fielding positions are not fixed and the captain positions his players according to the situation of the game or a specific batsman's weakness. For example if the fielding side is on top a captain sets an attacking fielders with lots of catchers to keep the pressure on, but if a batting side is on top he sets a defensive field with the majority of his players in deeper positions.

    • 5

      Know about fielding restrictions. In one day cricket during what is known as a power play (the first 20 overs in 50 over cricket and the first 8 in 20 over cricket) only 2 fielders can stand outside the 30 yard fielding circle. Beyond the power plays 5 fielders can stand outside the circle.