What Is Cow Corner in Cricket? Field Position and Meaning

Cow corner is the informal leg-side area between deep midwicket and long-on, usually near the boundary. It is not an official MCC fielding position, but commentators and coaches use the phrase to describe the zone targeted by pulls, slog-sweeps and lofted leg-side shots.

For the complete vocabulary, see our cricket fielding positions, cricket field dimensions and fielding restrictions in cricket guides.

Where is cow corner on a cricket field?

Cow corner sits on the leg side between the deep-midwicket and long-on angles, generally in the boundary area.

The exact spot changes with the batter’s stance and the captain’s field. A right-handed batter’s leg-side arc is not identical to a left-hander’s, so a fielder who is described casually as “at cow corner” may move several metres toward deep midwicket or long-on.

Informal area	Closest formal field labels	Typical angle
Cow corner	Deep midwicket to long-on	Leg side, between square and straight
Deep midwicket	Midwicket	More square of the wicket
Long-on	Mid-on	Straighter in front of the batter

Is cow corner an official fielding position?

No, cow corner is cricket slang rather than a named position in the MCC Laws.

Official field diagrams use labels such as midwicket, deep midwicket and long-on. That distinction matters when a captain writes a field plan or an analyst records a location: “cow corner” is understandable shorthand, but “deep midwicket” is more precise.

The MCC Laws describe how the field and fielders are governed; they do not turn every commentator’s phrase into a formal position.

Which shots are played toward cow corner?

Pulls, slog-sweeps, heaves and lofted leg-side strokes are the shots most likely to send the ball toward cow corner.

The ball’s final location depends on the delivery and the batter’s contact. A short ball can be pulled squarer toward deep midwicket, while a fuller ball hit across the line can travel straighter toward long-on. A mistimed shot may also produce a catch for the boundary rider.

Why do captains protect cow corner?

Captains protect cow corner when the batter’s scoring pattern and the bowler’s line make the leg-side boundary a realistic threat.

A deep fielder can prevent six runs, create a catching chance and make the batter change the shot. In a short format, the captain may move the fielder a step toward the expected contact point; in longer cricket, an attacking close position may be more valuable than a boundary rider.

That decision sits alongside the format’s fielding restrictions. Our fielding restrictions in cricket guide explains why the same field is not legal in every over.

How is cow corner different from deep midwicket and long-on?

Cow corner is a broad informal zone, while deep midwicket and long-on are more specific labels on the fielding map.

Deep midwicket is usually squarer of the wicket. Long-on is straighter, roughly in line with the bowler’s end of the pitch. Cow corner covers the space between them, which is why the phrase works well in commentary but can be too vague for a detailed field plan.

How should beginners remember cow corner?

Imagine the leg-side boundary between the square-leg and straight-hit directions, then place the cow-corner zone closer to the deep-midwicket-to-long-on gap.

The simplest memory aid is: cow corner is a leg-side boundary region, not a wicket or a rule. Use it to understand commentary, then translate it into the nearest precise fielding label when setting a field or studying the Laws.

Frequently asked questions

Cow corner is useful cricket vocabulary, but it should not replace the formal field-position names when accuracy matters.