All about fielding positions

There are only 11 players in the fielding side including one wicket keeper and a bowler. So there are, at a time, only nine fielders on the field and the captain of the fielding side has to stipulate various positions to the fielders. A captain cannot do so when the ball is in play or the bowler is about to ball and is in his delivery stride.

Attacking and defensive field

An attacking field is the one in which the fielding captain sets up the fielders in catching positions. An attacking field is also where the captain has to take the wickets as soon as possible. So the fielders are generally placed the closest possible to wicket or the batsman. Usually there is more number of slips and the gully is also in place.

The defensive set up is exactly opposite from the attacking one. In this set up the fielding captain has to decide as to how to stop the runs. So the fielders are placed in a way where maximum runs can be stopped. Fielders are as far as possible from the batsman or the wicket. And the captain tries to place maximum number of fielders in front of the wicket.

Though the captain has the option of setting the field on his priorities but sometimes the situation demands a selective field set up. Then the captain has to decide on whether he would set an attacking field or the defensive field. The situations are as follows:-

Attacking field:

1) A captain would generally apply an attacking field when the batsman is new, as he will take time to settle down on the pitch. The captain will think that the batsman will inadvertently commit some error.

2) The fast bowlers would create most impact when the ball is new. So the captain would usually apply an attacking field when the ball is new.

3) Batsman has to resettle after any kind of break so a captain would usually apply an attacking field after a drinks break, overnight break or a meal break.

4) If the captain has employed the best bowler in the business. The experts say that he should also have an attacking field.

5) When the pitch is moist, it would help the fast bowler and when the pitch is dry then it would help a spin bowler. So in both the situations the fielding captain employs an attacking field.

6) When the team is low and doing poorly, the captain can apply an attacking field to create some pressure on the opponents.

Defensive field:

1) When the batsman is in top form and is playing for a longer while then it would be wise to apply a defensive field and reduce the scoring rate. This can frustrate the batsman and he can get out.

2) A captain would usually have a defending field when the opponents have to make runs briskly. This can slow down the run scoring rate and would influence the batsman to play risky shots.

3) When the pitch is not offering any help to the bowlers, the captain can apply a defensive field that would at least help him in reducing the run scoring rate.

Fielding positions

There are only a few basic fielding positions in a cricket ground. Many positions are applied frequently but some are applied only rarely depending upon the situation. Terms like backward, forward and square can further indicate the angle.

Wicketkeeper

It is regarded as one of the specialised positions in the field. A wicketkeeper is also one of the busy players on the field. He gets the ball every now and then when it is a wide ball or batsman misses it in any aspect. A wicket keeper would stand just behind the stumps in case of a spin or a slow bowler. But he would go further behind the stumps in case of a fast bowler.

Slips

The slips is the position where the ball travels very quickly. This is also a catching position as the batsman edges the ball that goes straight into the hands of slip fielders. Nine can be the maximum number of fielders a captain can have in the slips.

There can be nine fielders in the slip cordon. The slips start from exactly one foot behind from the wicketkeeper. The players standing here have good hand and eye co-ordination since the ball travels at a rapid pace and the fielders need to stop it.

There also are positions that are called floating slip and fly slip. A floating slip is the one where the fielder is moved anywhere on the slip cordon. A fly slip is the one that is exactly behind the slips cordon.

Gully

Gully is another one of the catching positions that is just behind square of the wicket on the off side. In this position a batsman would hit the ball while trying to hit the ball over the fielder and will in the process get out. This is also a position where the ball travels quickly.

Point

This position is further away from the gully and is square of the wicket on the off side. The most powerful shots are stopped on this position like the square cut. The best fielders in the business are usually on this position. India’s Yuvraj singh and South Africa’s Jonty Rhodes are the two examples associated with this position.

This area also has a few different positions like:-

1) Backward point
Backward point is behind square of the wicket.

2) Silly point
Silly point is closest to the wicket. It is used when a bowler is bowling spin that might create catching opportunities. They are often seen jumping around when the batsman drives a powerful shot.

Cover

It is the area that covers the point and the mid off. Cover is another important offside position.

At cover there are a few positions where a fielder usually stands.

1) Extra cover
The fielder at extra cover is between the regular cover fielder and mid off.

2) Short Extra Cover
If a fielder gets more close to the wicket in the same angle to the batsman he is said to be at short extra cover.

3) Deep extra cover
Deep extra cover is down the boundary and it is one of the most defensive positions.

Third Man

Third man is the fielder at the boundary on the off side. He is generally deployed there to stop the runs which slips and gully fielders were not able to stop. He is usually 45 degrees to the wicket defending at the boundary. There is usually no third man in a Test match because in that situation the captain employs an attacking field.

Fine Leg

Fine Leg is just the mirror image of third man. It is a place where a bowler can take some rest. It is 45 degrees on the leg side. Though it is not a glamorous position on the field but it is an important run saving position.

Square Leg

Square leg is the position next to where second umpire stands. It is the mirror image of point. And it is also one of the catching positions on the leg side.

At square leg there are a few positions where a fielder usually stands:

1) Deep square leg
This position is at the boundary which is just behind the square leg position. It can be at the angle 0 degrees from the wicket.

2)Short leg
This position is usually for the youngest member in the team. The fielder has to stand close to the batsman wearing a helmet and shinguards. So in a way the fielder is directly in the line of fire on the leg side. The fielder has to be very sharp and

3)Backward square
Backward square is the position where a fielder would be standing on the leg side and would be slightly behind the line of the wicket.



Field restrictions

There are certain rules which a fielding team should follow while on the field:-

Powerplay

Powerplay is the new system for fielding restrictions which is followed in the ODI format of the game. Earlier only two fielders were allowed in the thirty yard circle in the first 15 overs. This brought in the trend of pinch hitters who would gather most of the runs in the first 15 overs to help the team have solid foundation.

The powerplay was then brought in to keep the game more exciting for a few more hours. According to the powerplays the same rule was amended for the first ten overs of every innings and also in two blocks of five overs. Powerplays though are used at the discretion of the fielding captain.

In the first 10 overs of the innings the restrictions are exactly same as that of the old rules which states that there should be only 2 fielders outside the 30 yard circle. Two fielders also have to be in the close catching position. This phase is called Powerplay.

In the second phase which is also called powerplay 2, the fielding captain has to employ only 2 fielders outside the 30 yard circle though the norm of two close catching fielders is not necessary. Powerplay 2 will only have 5 overs. The fielding captain can start powerplay 2 at anytime, even between the over, though he will have to inform the umpires about it.

The second block of five overs with same fielding restrictions as powerplay 2 is called the powerplay 3. The umpire at every phase of the powerplay will have to signal as and when the powerplay starts.

In addition to the above restrictions, the following restrictions also apply:

Law 41

Restrictions on the placement of fieldsmen (Trial Playing Condition)

41.2.1 At the instant of delivery, there may not be more than 5 fieldsmen on the leg side.

41.2.2 In addition to the restriction contained in clause 41.2.1 above, further fielding restrictions shall apply to certain overs in each innings. The nature of such fielding restrictions and the overs during which they shall apply (hereinafter referred to as the Fielding Restriction Overs) are set out in the following paragraphs.

41.2.3 The following fielding restrictions shall apply:

a) Two semi-circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The semi-circles shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the semicircles shall be 30 yards (27.43 metres). The semi-circles shall be linked by two parallel straight lines drawn on the field. (Refer attached appendix 1). The fielding restriction areas should be marked by continuous painted white lines or ‘dots’ at 5 yard (4.57 metres) intervals, each ‘dot’ to be covered by a white plastic or rubber (but not metal) disc measuring 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter. During the Fielding Restriction Overs (as set out below), only two fieldsmen shall be permitted outside this fielding restriction area at the instant of delivery.

b) Two inner circles shall be drawn on the field of play. The circles shall have as their centres the centrepoint of the popping crease at either end of the pitch. The radius of each of the circles shall be 15 yards (13.72 metres). The fielding restriction area should be marked by ‘dots’. The segment of the circles reserved for the slip positions shall not be demarcated (refer attached appendix 1). During the initial block of Fielding Restriction Overs (in an uninterrupted innings, the first 10), there must be a minimum of two stationary fieldsmen within this fielding restriction area at the instant of delivery. When a fast bowler is bowling the two stationary fieldsmen may be permitted to stand deeper than 15 yards (13.72 metres) (in the undemarcated area) provided only that they are standing in slip, leg slip or gully positions.

41.2.4 During the non Fielding Restriction Overs, no more than 5 fieldsmen shall be permitted outside the fielding restriction area referred to in clause 41.2.3 a) above.

41.2.5 Subject to the provisions of 41.2.6 below, the Fielding Restriction Overs shall apply for 20 overs per innings to be taken as follows:

a) 10 of the Fielding Restriction Overs shall be the first 10 overs of the innings.

b) The remaining 10 overs shall be taken at the discretion of the fielding captain in 2 blocks of 5 at any time in the innings thereafter. The fielding captain shall advise the onfield umpires accordingly.

c) Should the fielding captain choose not to exercise this discretion, the remaining blocks of Fielding Restriction Overs will automatically commence at the latest available point in the innings (i.e. in an uninterrupted innings, at the start of the 41st and the 46th overs).

41.2.6 In circumstances when the number of overs of the batting team is reduced, the number of Fielding Restriction Overs shall be reduced in accordance with the table below. For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that the table shall apply to both the 1st and 2nd innings of the match.

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