Field Placement.

Refer to Fielding Positions for the names and locations of fielding positions.

The captain places fielders in positions designed to do two things:

Get batsmen out by being in the right places to take catches.
Prevent runs being scored.

Because wickets are at a premium, there will almost always be several fielders placed in positions whose primary purpose is to take catches. This includes fielders in the slips, gully, silly point, silly mid off, silly mid on, short leg, and leg slip. These are attacking fielders.

More dispersed fielding positions in the infield are designed to prevent runs, while several are also in suitable positions to take an occasional catch. Example positions of this type include point, cover, mid off, mid on, midwicket, and square leg.

Positions in the outfield are mostly used solely to prevent runs. These positions include third man, deep point, deep cover, long off, long on, deep midwicket, deep square leg, and fine leg. These are defensive fielders. Sometimes a fielder will be placed in the outfield specifically for a batsman who is known to hit the ball high into the outfield in a certain direction. Long off, long on, and deep midwicket are the most used outfield positions for this purpose. Deep midwicket and deep square leg in particular can be used to attack the batsman if he is known to hook short balls. With fielders in the outfield, the bowler can tempt the batsman with repeated bouncers, challenging him to try to hook the ball clear of the fielders.

Depending on the total configuration of the field, it can be described as either an attacking field (designed to take wickets) or defensive field (designed to prevent runs). The entire field setting also depends on the style of the bowler and what bowling tactics the captain tells his bowlers to perform.
In baseball, fielders are not placed close to the batter, because stopping a ball from so close would be next to impossible. It might be possible to catch a bunt, but no fielder is ever placed to do this. In cricket, fielders are often placed within a few metres of the batsman, to catch balls that hit the bat and pop only a short distance in the air. These fielders are not placed to stop runs at all; their only goal is to take such short catches.

A standard attacking field for a fast bowler will include three or four slips, one or two gullies, and perhaps a short leg and/or a silly point. It also generally includes mid off, mid on, and fine leg to cover the bulk of the field. Any remaining fielders will likely be used at cover, point, midwicket, or square leg, depending on the batsman and bowling tactics.
A defensive field for a fast bowler will have one or two slips, then a mostly full ring of infielders: gully, point, cover, mid off, mid on, midwicket, square leg. A fine leg and perhaps a third man cover the boundary behind the batsman, while outfielders forward of the batsman will vary depending on the batsman's predilection for certain directions.
An attacking field for a spin bowler will have a close slip, gully, and two or more other close catchers: silly point, silly mid off, silly mid on, short leg, perhaps a leg slip. The remainder of the fielders form an infield ring, and the outfield will usually have a fine leg, plus perhaps a deep midwicket or long off for attempted lofted shots.
A defensive field for a spin bowler will simply have an infield ring, and several fielders in the outfield patrolling the boundary.

Refinements occur if, for example, the captain decides to attack a batsman by instructing the bowlers to concentrate on bowling outside the off stump, to entice the batsman to attempt to drive the ball, and hopefully get an edge to the slips. In such a case, it is difficult for the batsman to turn the ball to the leg side, so fewer leg side fielders are needed. This tactic often results in seven fielders on the off side and only two on the leg side (a 7-2 field).

Alternatively, the captain may decide to instruct the bowlers to concentrate on bowling into the batsman's legs, in an attempt to get him out bowled, LBW, or lofting a catch to the leg side field. This naturally requires more fielders on the leg side.