Cricket fielding restrictions determine how teams position their fielders and defend against scoring opportunities. The rules differ between Test matches, One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), particularly in the number of fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle during limited-overs cricket.
Understanding cricket fielding restrictions by format helps players and fans follow the tactical decisions behind every innings. Test cricket does not use the standard limited-overs Powerplay system, while ODIs divide the innings into three Powerplay phases and T20Is have a single six-over Powerplay.
This guide explains the official men’s international fielding restrictions, including Powerplay rules, limits on fielder positions, shortened innings and penalties for violations.
What are Fielding Restrictions in Cricket?
Fielding restrictions are rules that limit the positions or number of fielders allowed in particular areas of the field. They help regulate field placements and, in limited-overs cricket, create a balance between scoring opportunities and boundary protection.
The main restrictions covered in international playing conditions include:
- The maximum number of fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle during specified overs.
- The maximum number of fielders permitted on the leg side in limited-overs formats.
- The maximum number of fielders allowed behind the popping crease on the leg side, excluding the wicketkeeper.
The applicable restrictions depend on the match format and the playing conditions in force. The following sections cover standard men’s international cricket under the ICC playing conditions effective from October 2026.
Cricket Fielding Restrictions: Test vs ODI vs T20
| Fielding rule | Test cricket | ODI cricket | T20 international |
| Powerplay system | No | Yes, three phases | Yes, first 6 overs |
| Maximum fielders outside the 30-yard circle | No Powerplay-based limit | 2, 4 or 5, depending on the phase | 2 during Powerplay; 5 afterwards |
| Maximum fielders on the leg side | No separate five-fielder limit in the current men’s Test conditions | 5 | 5 |
| Maximum fielders behind the popping crease on the leg side, excluding the wicketkeeper | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Read More: Cricket Super Over Rules
1. Fielding Restrictions in Test Cricket
Test cricket is played over a longer period, allowing captains to adapt their field placements to the pitch, bowling strategy and match situation. Unlike ODIs and T20Is, Test matches do not have the standard limited-overs Powerplay system or its associated 30-yard-circle restrictions.
Captains can generally position fielders around the ground according to their strategy, subject to the applicable fielding laws.
Key Test cricket fielding rules
Maximum two fielders behind the popping crease on the leg side: At the instant of delivery, no more than two fielders, excluding the wicketkeeper, may be behind the popping crease on the leg side.
Fielders must not encroach on the pitch: Before the ball has made contact with the striker’s bat or person, or passed the striker’s bat, fielders other than the bowler must not have any part of their person grounded on or extended over the pitch.
These requirements are set out in clauses 28.4 and 28.5 of the ICC Men’s Test Match Playing Conditions. Test cricket therefore offers greater flexibility in field placement than limited-overs formats, but it is not free from fielding restrictions.
2. Fielding Restrictions in ODI Cricket
A standard men’s One Day International gives each team up to 50 overs to bat. The innings is divided into three Powerplay phases, during which the number of fielders permitted outside the 30-yard circle changes. Under clause 28.7 of the ICC Men’s ODI Playing Conditions, the standard restrictions are as follows.
ODI Powerplay rules
Powerplay 1: Overs 1–10
A maximum of two fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle. This restriction leaves more fielders inside the circle and creates opportunities for batters to score through gaps or play attacking shots.
Powerplay 2: Overs 11–40
A maximum of four fielders can be outside the circle. The bowling team has greater freedom to protect boundaries while maintaining fielders in positions that help prevent singles.
Powerplay 3: Overs 41–50
A maximum of five fielders can be outside the circle. This allows the fielding side to protect boundaries more effectively during the final overs.
In addition to these Powerplay restrictions, no more than five fielders can be on the leg side at the instant of delivery. No more than two fielders, excluding the wicketkeeper, can be behind the popping crease on the leg side.
What happens to ODI fielding restrictions in a shortened innings?
When an ODI innings is shortened, the overs allocated to the three Powerplay phases are adjusted according to the official table in the playing conditions.
For example, a 20-over ODI innings has four overs in Powerplay 1, 12 overs in Powerplay 2 and four overs in Powerplay 3. The applicable allocations depend on the revised innings length, rather than automatically retaining the standard 10-30-10 split.
3. Fielding Restrictions in T20 Cricket
A standard men’s T20 International gives each team up to 20 overs to bat. Its fielding restrictions are designed around a single Powerplay at the start of the innings, followed by a phase in which more fielders can be positioned outside the circle.
T20 Powerplay rules
Powerplay: Overs 1–6
Only two fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle at the instant of delivery. This restriction encourages opportunities for attacking shots during the opening overs.
Non-Powerplay: Overs 7–20
A maximum of five fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle. Captains can use these additional boundary riders to defend against aggressive batting.
The T20I conditions also limit the fielding side to five fielders on the leg side and two fielders, excluding the wicketkeeper, behind the popping crease on the leg side at the instant of delivery.
What if a T20 innings is shortened?
If the number of overs is reduced, the Powerplay length is recalculated using the official T20I table. For example, a 10-over men’s T20I innings has a three-over Powerplay. During these overs, no more than two fielders may be outside the 30-yard circle.
The official table specifies the Powerplay allocation for each applicable shortened innings length.
4. What is the 30-Yard Circle in Cricket?
The 30-yard circle is the marked fielding restriction area used in limited-overs cricket. It consists of two semicircles centred on the middle stump at either end of the pitch and connected by two parallel straight lines.
Under the ICC men’s ODI and T20I playing conditions, each semicircle has a radius of 30 yards, equivalent to approximately 27.43 metres. Umpires use this marked area to determine whether the fielding team has positioned the permitted number of players outside the circle at the instant of delivery.
The standard Powerplay-based circle restrictions apply to ODIs and T20Is, not to Test cricket.
5. What Happens If a Team Violates Fielding Restrictions?
The penalty depends on the format and the specific restriction breached. In men’s ODI and T20I cricket, an infringement of the applicable Powerplay fielding restrictions results in a No ball. The same penalty applies to breaches of the relevant on-side fielding restrictions under the limited-overs playing conditions.
A No ball carries a one-run penalty and does not count as one of the valid balls in the over. Under the standard ODI and T20I playing conditions, the next delivery is a free hit. If the free-hit delivery is itself a no-ball or Wide, the following delivery remains a free hit.
A fielding restriction breach does not mean that every fielding infringement in every format has identical consequences. For example, the specific Test restriction on the number of fielders behind the popping crease on the leg side also results in a no-ball.
Conclusion
Cricket fielding restrictions differ across Test, ODI and T20 formats. Test cricket does not use the limited-overs Powerplay system, while ODIs have three Powerplay phases and T20Is have one six-over Powerplay.
The key numbers to remember are two, four and five fielders outside the circle across the three ODI phases, and two during the T20I Powerplay followed by a maximum of five afterwards.
For accurate interpretation, always refer to the playing conditions applicable to the specific competition and match. The rules above describe standard men’s international cricket under the ICC conditions effective from October 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In a standard 50-over men’s ODI, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the circle in overs 1–10, four in overs 11–40 and five in overs 41–50.
In a standard men’s T20 International, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the circle during the first six overs and five during the remaining overs.
No. Test cricket does not use the standard limited-overs Powerplay system. Field placements remain subject to the applicable Test playing conditions.
Under the standard men’s ODI and T20I playing conditions, a maximum of five fielders can be on the leg side. The current men’s Test conditions instead specify the restriction on the number of fielders behind the popping crease on the leg side.
A breach of the applicable fielding restrictions results in a no-ball. Under the standard men’s ODI and T20I conditions, the next delivery is a free hit.
