Off side vs leg side
The field splits along the pitch. The off side is the side the batter faces; the leg side is behind their legs. Flip the RH/LH toggle and watch the two sides swap — that’s why every position name depends on the batter.
Cricket Fielding Positions
Every fielding position on one interactive ground. Tap a dot to learn what the fielder does there, flip the batter’s stance, or load a real captain’s field setting.
- 1. You’re looking down at the field — the batter is on the pitch at the centre
- 2. Tap any dot to see what that fielder does and when captains use them
- 3. Try a Field setting below to light up a real match setup
Field settings
Every position, A–Z
Prefer reading to tapping? Every position on the map, alphabetically. Select any name to highlight it on the ground above.
Field basics in 60 seconds
The 30-yard circle
The dashed ring around the pitch. In one-day and T20 cricket, rules limit how many fielders may stand outside it — that’s why captains can’t just put everyone on the boundary.
Close catchers
The red dots crowded around the bat — slips, gully, short leg. They’re there for one thing: catching the edge or the pop-up before it hits the ground. More catchers = a more attacking captain.
Boundary riders
The fielders out on the rope — long off, deep midwicket, third man. They stop fours, catch big hits, and turn twos into ones. Defensive fields push more players out here.
Fielding positions FAQ
Why is it called “cow corner”?
Cow corner is the deep boundary between deep midwicket and long on. The name is old English club-cricket humour: shots hit there were considered so agricultural — big, crude swings across the line — that only cows grazing at that corner of the field would be in the way. The proper fielding position stationed there is deep midwicket.
Why are some positions called “silly”?
Positions like silly point and silly mid on sit just a few metres from the bat — close enough that standing there was historically considered foolish, hence “silly”. These fielders wear helmets and wait for catches that pop up off the bat or pad, usually when a spinner is bowling.
What is the difference between the off side and the leg side?
The field is split in half along the pitch. The off side is the side the batter faces when standing at the crease; the leg side (or on side) is the side behind their legs. The sides swap when a left-hander is on strike — use the RH/LH toggle on the map above to see every position mirror.
How many fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle?
It depends on the format and the phase of the innings. In ODIs: a maximum of 2 fielders outside the circle in overs 1–10, 4 in overs 11–40, and 5 in the last ten. In T20s: 2 during the six-over powerplay, then 5 afterwards. Test cricket has no fielding-circle restrictions, though only 2 fielders may stand behind square on the leg side in all formats.
What is the difference between point and cover?
Both patrol the off side in front of the wicket. Point stands square of the batter — level with the crease — and eats hard cuts. Cover stands about 45 degrees in front of square and defends the classic cover drive. Cover point sits in the gap between them.
What does third man do?
Third man fields on the boundary behind the wicket on the off side. They chase edges that fly past the slips, and in T20 cricket they guard against ramps and upper-cuts. Captains often debate leaving third man open because it’s one of the least “intentional” scoring areas.
How many fielding positions are there in cricket?
There are 11 players, but far more named positions — this page maps 36 recognised ones, and with fine gradations (short, deep, backward, forward, silly, wide) commentators use dozens more. A captain picks 9 positions per ball: the bowler and wicketkeeper are fixed, leaving 9 fielders to place anywhere legal.
Do fielding positions change for a left-handed batter?
The names stay the same but the field mirrors, because positions are defined relative to the batter’s stance. A right-hander’s slip cordon stands on one side of the keeper; for a left-hander it moves to the other. Flip the LH batter toggle on the map above to watch every position swap sides.