Slip (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, slip (collectively, a slip cordon) is a fielding position on the off side of a batsman, usually placed in that position in anticipation of a "snick", or edge, from him, which is too far from the wicket-keeper to catch comfortably. Many teams employ two or three slips (numbered from the slip fielder closest to the wicket-keeper: first slip, second slip, etc.). A floating slip is sometimes employed, usually in limited over games, who patrols an area in the slip cordon that would ordinarily be occupied by more than one fielder.

Related Topics:
Sport - Cricket - Fielding position - Off side - Batsman - Wicket-keeper

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The gully fielder is an extension of the line of slips and fields almost square to the batsman; gully is also the name given to that area of the field. A fielder standing in gully would be standing on the imaginary straight line that extends from the on-side corner of batter's popping crease to middle stump towards the slip cordon. The position of gully was invented by Arthur Jones, who later became England captain in the 1880s at Bedford Modern School in Bedford. It was quickly adopted by EHD Sewell at Bedford School and then gained in popularity thereafter.

Related Topics:
Arthur Jones - England captain - 1880 - Bedford Modern School - Bedford - Bedford School

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On occasion, four or five slips are called for. Australia used seven slips and a gully against Zimbabwe's lower order batsmen in a One-day International in 2001. England also used seven slips in the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica in 2004. All nine fielders can be used, but this is very rare.

Related Topics:
Australia - Zimbabwe - One-day International - 2001 - England - Test - West Indies - Jamaica - 2004

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A fielder in the equivalent position on the on side of the wicket-keeper is known as a leg slip; this is considerably less common than the off-side slip, and for a team to employ more than one leg slip is highly unusual.

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