Slip (cricket)

With the most catches in test cricket, former Indian captain Rahul Dravid is considered one of the greatest slip fielders of all time.

Mark Waugh would probably be considered the best of all time, with other brilliant exponents of the craft including Wally Hammond, Brian Lara, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sunil Gavaskar, Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, Sir Garfield Sobers, Bobby Simpson, Ian Chappell, Jacques Kallis, Brian McMillan, Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting, VVS Laxman, Mahela Jayawardene, Stephen Fleming, Younis Khan, Matthew Hayden, Sir Ian Botham and Steve Smith.

Enticing the batsman to edge and hit a catch to the wicket-keeper or slips is the standard wicket-taking tactic in off theory.

Unsurprisingly, bowlers bowling these deliveries effectively generally have larger slip cordons than those who are not.

It is illegal, under Law 41.5, to have more than two fielders in the area between square leg and long stop, to prevent the fielding team from making use of bodyline tactics.

An orthodox slips cordon for a fast bowler , with slip fielders and wicket-keeper in characteristic partial squatting position .
Three slips and a wicket-keeper (to the right). They are some distance from the batsman due to the pace of the bowler.
Fielding positions for a right-handed batsman, showing slips, gully and leg slip.