Cricket Fielding Positions and Batting Shots
Ever asked your captain what position you should field and not known where Mid Off or Fine Leg are? Well you have come to the right place to know your fielding positions!
In cricket there are many fielding positions here are a few of the major ones.
There are only 11 players on the cricket pitch so you can't field in all these positions at once.
Where you place fielders in a cricket match all depends on how many runs your opponent needs to win and how many balls are left. E.g if your opponent needs 50 runs to win off 45 balls you would have a defensive field so fielders on the boundary and stopping the 1 or 2 runs, but if your opponent needs 40 off 10 balls you would have an attacking field. Now I shall explain these positions 1 by 1.
Deep Fine Leg- This fielder is on the boundary stopping the ball from going for 4 runs then he shall throw the ball into the Bowler or the Wicket-keeper to stop the batsmen running any more runs.
Deep Square Leg- This fielder is also on the boundary so if the batsmen hits a pull shot (see batting shots)it doesn't go for 4.
Long On- This fielder is in one of the main boundary catching positions, catching lofted drives and stopping the 4 and sometimes the 6, This fielder also stops On Drives.
Long Off- This fielder does the same as Long On but stops Off Drives not On Drives and gets the ball into the Bowler mainly or Wicket-Keeper if there is a run out chance at that end.
Deep Extra Cover- This fielder is on the boundary to stop strong Cover Drives or Cuts going across the boundary for 4 runs.
Third Man- This fielder can be almost behind the Wicket-keeper to around about in line with Gully on the boundary, the fielder stops fours from Edges and Late Cuts that have gone past the slips.
Point- This fielder is varying on how close the fielder is stops the 1 or 2 runs, he is mainly stopping Cuts and Square Drives.
Cover Point- This fielder stops Cover Drives, stopping either 1 or 2 runs depending on how close this fielder is.
Extra Cover- This fielder is stopping Cover and Off Drives and stopping 1 or 2 runs and this fielder is also in a catching position in case the batsmen chips up the ball.
Cover- Cover is in between Cover Point and Extra Cover stopping 1 or 2 runs off a Cover Drive or a Off Drive.
Mid Off- This fielder is next to the bowler stopping Off or Straight Drives, if the fielder is close the fielder should be able to stop a single but further away the fielder should be able to stop a 2nd run.
Silly Mid Off- This fielder is close in trying to get a catch or stopping the batsmen from running. Mainly a Off or Cover Drive being mistimed would be what this fielder would catch.
Silly Point- This is a close in version of point so this fielder has more chance of taking catches from Edges and mis-timed shots. This fielder also stops the batsmen from getting a run.
Gully- This fielder is a catcher and is there to catch Square Cuts and Edges. And he stops the ball from being Square Cut for 4 runs.
Slips- The slips are in place to catch Edges, Late Cuts and mis-timed shots. Slips start at 1st slip and can go to 9th if you choose. They make a rounded shape starting from the Wicket-keeper.
Wicket-keeper- This fielder is mandatory and wears pads, gloves and a helmet if this fielder wants to. This fielder stops the ball after the ball has passed the strikers end stumps.
Mid Fine Leg- This fielder is stopping the ball for going for 4 runs early and then stopping the batsmen running the second or third run. This could also be a catching position with mistimed hooks.
Square Leg- This fielder is stopping pull shots and maybe hooks that have been hit early from going for 4 and then stopping any more runs being run by the batsmen.
Mid Wicket- This fielder is stopping pull shots and leg side drives from crossing the ropes and then getting the ball into the stumps stopping any more runs from being scored.
Short Leg- This fielder is there to catch or stop mis-timed pull shots and hooks, Then trying to stop the single or the second run.
Silly Mid On- This fielder is there for catching mistimed shots and stopping the single. This fielder will normally retrieve the ball if the batsmen defends the ball.
Mid On- This fielder stops On Drives and Straight Drives. And also sometimes catches Lofted Drives. This fielder stands near the bowler and often shines the ball for the fast bowlers.
Here is a little list of what some of the terms mean:
Batting Shots
In Cricket there are many types of batting shots ranging from orthodox shots to very unorthodox shots.
Here are some diagrams to show some shots:
And
Here is a little more about these shots.
Leg Glance- This shot is normally played off a yorker or a short ball and tapped or powered down to Fine Leg, this shot often goes for 4 runs.
Sweep- This shot is played while crouched or on one knee and played off a good length ball or that's going down leg. This shot is normally played to a spinner.
Hook- The Hook shot is a dangerous shot that is played off a short ball bouncing to between chest and head height, this shot is a risky but effective shot.
Pull- The Pull shot is a very common and effective shot and is played at about waist height. This is a cross-batted shot meaning the bat is parallel to the ground.
On Drive- This shot is mainly played to a good or full length ball that is straight or on leg stump, and is hit with a straight batted shot down the ground.
Lofted Drive- This shot is a well known shot in cricket for getting sixes, it is played to a ball pitching just short of the half volley and is smashed over the bowlers head.
Straight Drive- This shot is a classic shot and is hit to a overpitched ball - not a yorker but not a good length - either into the On or Off side next to the stumps.
Off Drive- This shot is played to a ball that is full and pitching outside off stump and is hit with a straight batted shot.
Cover Drive- This shot is a powerful straight batted shot hit through Mid Off and Cover. Lots of the time this shot is hit for 4 runs. This shot is played to a good or full length ball.
Square Drive- This is also a powerful straight batted shot but is hit square inbetween Point and Cover Point and run away for 4 runs. This shot is played to a short ball pitching outside Off.
Square Cut- This shot is played on the back foot shot. This is a very powerful shot because it allows you to free your arms and hit it cross-batted to get lots of power. This shot is played to a short length ball.
Reverse Sweep- This is a very classy shot but dificult to execute correctly but it is a risky (but very effective) shot and often goes for 4 runs. This shot is played to a good or full length ball.
Late Cut - The Late Cut is effective because you are guiding the ball down to the third man position which means if it does not go for 4 runs you should be able to get at least 2 runs. This shot is played to a short length ball.
Here is a diagram of the lengths of each ball.
Thank you very much for reading this I hope this helps you a lot with your fielding positions and batting shots.
Please leave comments saying if this has helped you or how I could improve it.
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