Cricket Fielding Positions

Cricket is the complex game. It more than hitting a ball with the bat. Many people only consider that, batting and bowling are only the two parts of cricket game completely ignoring the fielding. But, fielding in cricket is also as important and batting and bowling. Understanding fielding in cricket seems easy while watching cricket but, there are techniques in fielding and different types of fielding positions in cricket according to the situation of the game.In this post, I will explain all fielding positions in cricket and types of fielding positions used in different positions. They say, a picture  is worth more than 1000 words. Check out the different positions of the fielders in the cricket field.

Cricket fielding Position diagram

Note: This cricket fielding position diagram is the field setting for right handed batsman. Fielding position for left handed batsman is similar to that of right just, the fielders of right are in the left and vice-versa.

Important fielding Positions In Cricket

With the compulsion of a wicket-keeper and a bowler, there are 9 fielders available to set the field for a captain. In cricket, a good captain is one who can set the fielders in the perfect positions according to the situation of the game. Here are the different fielding positions in cricket and when they are used by a fielding captain in general.

• Slip position: Slip is the position next to that of wicket-keeper. A slip position is used in cricket if the team is in need of wicket of the opposition. There can be more than one slip. If the team needs a wicket desperately then, a captain places more slip positions. Cricket has moved from larger formats of test cricket to smaller formats-T20 cricket. And, the number of slip has also decreased in the same order. 
• Point fielder: Point is one of the most crucial fielding position where the probability of the coming ball is maximum. Thus, best fielder in the team is placed in the point position.
• Third Man: In modern cricket, playing ball in the direction of third man position has been the general. Fielder with good arm (generally fast bowlers) are placed in third man. As game of cricket has become more aggressive, trend to remove third man position and setting Fly slip position also has been widely used.
• Fly slip: Fly slip position is set generally in defensive field set. Third man or fly slip  is generally set 99 of 100 times in limited over cricket as field set is defensive in these formats.
• Backward point: Fielder in backward point position is set in defensive field set to protect boundaries. Generally, point fielder is set in attacking field set and backward point is used in defensive field set and sometimes both fielder are set at the same time, if the batsman is good at playing in point direction.
• Cover / Extra cover: Cover fielder and extra cover is usually placed in most of times in any format of attacking field set and good fielder are placed in the cover region.
• Deep cover / Deep Extra cover: Deep cover and deep extra cover are placed to protect the boundaries from lofted shot over cover and extra cover respectively.
• Silly point, silly mid off and short leg: These are the closed fielding position in the cricket field and these positions are only used with motive just of take wickets of opposition. These positions are set in the spin bowling and very rarely in the fast bowlers bowling.
• Mid off and log off: Mid off and log off is the fairly straight fielding position (only little bit off side) inside the 30 yard circle and the boundary position respectively. Mid off is used in attacking field set where as log off in defensive  and one of the either field set is positioned in most of the cases.
• Square leg and deep square leg: Either square leg  or deep square leg is positioned in most of the cases. Square leg and deep square leg are in the same line from the batsman batting point. Only difference between these position is one is set in between 30 yard circle for attacking field set and another in boundary to protect four and sixes.
• Fine Leg / Short fine leg: Either a fine leg or short fine leg is positioned in 99 out of 100 times in the game of cricket. With the evolution of T20 cricket, short fine leg instead of fine leg has been used to set the defensive field according to wish of captain as there can only be maximum of 5 fielders in the boundary.
• Mid on And Log on: Mid on and Log on are fairly straight position of fielding position except they are little on leg side. Mid on and Log on are mostly in active when the bowlers bowl straight ball.

Attacking Field Set

Attacking field Set

There is no any rule that, what type of fielding position should be considered as attacking field set. If a team is in need of wicket then, the most of fielder are placed closed to batsman with 2 or more slip, this type of field setting is renowned as the attacking field set. As the game of cricket has moved from 5 days long test cricket to 3 hours T20 cricket, the field setting has been less attacking to control the run rate.  Generally, fielders inside 30 yard circle(small circle) is considered as attacking fielding positions.

Defensive Field Set:

Defensive Field Set

Defensive field set is used to control the flow of runs. There can be maximum of 5 fielders in the boundary region which is generally used in defensive field setting. As game modernize from test to T20 cricket the, field set has been more defensive and defensive.