in cricket why is third man so named when there are no first or second men?

Answer 1

Some of the above is nearly right, but the position is named for the fact that for a ball nicked outside off stump (what the bowler should be bowling for to try and get a caught dismissal) he is the third line of defence. To reach him the ball must beat the wicket keeper (remember the field position names are traditional, and this harks back to the time when the wicket keeper generally stood up to the stumps well ahead of the slip), then beat the slip fielder, before ending up with him. Answers refering to first and second slip then third man are misleading as one frequently sees third slip, sometimes fourth and on occasion even fifth slip.

Answer 2

I think it's to do with the fielding position. It's called that because generally you'll have a wicketkeeper and a slip fielder, which are the two lines of defence behind the crease, then a fielder down towards the boundary out further than the slip fielder is third man, because he's the third line of defence, hence the term "third man".

Answer 3

He is the third man fielding in the slips.
There can be a 1st and second it depends on how the captain sets up the slip fielders which will depend on the batsman style and the bowlers style.

It's all very complicated and quite dull.

Answer 4

third man refers to the position and not the actual players. eg. you may have first and second slip in place but if they are absent ie. they have not been placed there by the captain. the positions are still there.

Answer 5

effectively the third option in the field i.e wicket keeper slip and then third man

Answer 6

Oxford Blue cricketing traditions of yore...

Answer 7

there are 1 and 2 man
1 wicketkeeper
2 slip fielder

Answer 8

dont get the question but if i thinks its what you meen the 3rd man is the umpire in the stands watching it on tv and the 1st and 2nd umpires are on the pitch

Answer 9

as its the 3rd man next or behind the batsman....as in 1st and 2nd slip....then third man,