| Catching
positions
Some fielding positions are used offensively. That is, players
are put there with the main aim being to catch out the batsman
rather than to stop or slow down the scoring of runs. These
positions include: Slip (often there are multiple slips next
to each other, designated First slip, Second slip, Third slip,
etc, numbered outwards from the wicket-keeper); Fly slip;
Gully; Leg slip; Leg gully; the short and silly positions.
Bat pad is a position specifically intended to catch balls
that unintentionally strike the bat and leg pad, and thus
end up only a metre or two to the leg side.
Other positions
Other positions worth noting include:
• Wicket-keeper
• Long stop, who stands behind the wicket-keeper towards
the boundary (usually when a wicket-keeper is believed to
be inept and almost never seen in professional cricket).
• Sweeper, an alternative name for deep cover, deep
extra cover or deep midwicket (that is, near the boundary
on the off side or the on side), usually defensive and intended
to prevent a four being scored.
• Cow corner, an informal jocular term for the position
on the boundary between deep midwicket and long on.
Also the bowler, after delivering the ball, must avoid running
on the pitch so usually ends up fielding near mid on or mid
off, but somewhat closer to the pitch. |
