Cricket for kids Setting the field

Setting the Field

Now you know the names — but who stands where, and why do fielders keep moving around?

The captain's two jobs

In a real match, the captain chooses where everyone stands — usually after a quick chat with the bowler. And the captain is always juggling two jobs that pull in opposite directions:

Take wickets Get the batter out — so you put fielders where a catch might fly.
Save runs Stop the ball reaching the rope — so you put fielders where the runs are scored.

You can't do both perfectly at the same time. So the captain leans one way or the other, depending on what's happening in the game.

Attacking or defending?

Almost every field is somewhere between these two shapes:

Attacking

Fielders crowd in close — slips, silly point, short leg. If the batter edges or pops one up, someone's right there. But gaps open for easy runs.

Defending

Fielders spread out to the boundary to cut off fours and sixes. A single here and there is fine — you're stopping the big hits. But catches are less likely.

A few patterns to spot

Captains aren't guessing — they're following little patterns like these:

A brand-new batter? Crowd them. A batter who's just walked out hasn't faced a single ball yet, so they don't know how fast it's coming, how high it's bouncing, or which way it's swinging on this pitch today. It takes a few overs to get used to all that and start judging the ball well — until then they're far more likely to misjudge one and edge it. That's the moment to pack in the close catchers, before they settle in.
Watch their favourite shot — then block it. If a batter keeps hitting the ball to the same patch of grass, put a fielder right there. Take away the shot they love most.
Match the bowler. A fast bowler gets slips and a gully behind the bat, ready for edges. A spinner often has catchers in front of the bat — silly point and short leg — plus someone deep for the big swipe.
Plug the gaps. Never leave a big empty patch of grass — that's free runs! Spread the fielders so each one is guarding a different area.
Batter going well? Protect the boundary. Once a batter is set, or the other team needs lots of runs in a hurry, ring the edge of the field to stop those fours and sixes.

A real rule to know

You're only allowed two fielders behind square on the leg side — no more.

Long ago, before batters wore helmets, there was a fierce tactic nicknamed "Bodyline." Bowlers hurled the ball fast and short so it reared up straight at the batter's chest and head — and they packed the leg side with catchers waiting close by.

That put the batter in a horrible trap. Throw the bat up to protect your face and the ball pops gently off it — straight to one of those waiting catchers, so you're out. Don't lift the bat and the ball thumps into you. Either way you lose, and players were getting badly hurt.

So the law was changed: with only two fielders allowed behind square on the leg side, you can't crowd that area with catchers any more — which takes away the whole point of bowling at someone. It keeps the game fair and a lot safer, and that's the rule we still play by today.

Now it's your turn

Here's the best secret of all: there is no single "right" field. A good captain changes it for every batter, every bowler, and every moment of the game.

Next time you watch some cricket, see if you can spot why a fielder just jogged to a new spot — and remember from the guide, the whole field flips over for a left-handed batter!