The Reverse Ramp — Cricket's Most Creative Modern Shot
How the reverse ramp works, who plays it best, and why it is increasingly common in T20 cricket against fast bowling.
The reverse ramp is one of cricket's most audacious modern shots — played against fast bowling by a right-handed batter who turns to face third man, gets the bat under a short delivery, and scoops or ramps the ball over the wicketkeeper or backward square for a boundary. It requires exceptional hand-eye coordination and the confidence to deliberately play across the line of a ball bowled at high pace directly at the body.
How It Differs from a Standard Ramp
A standard ramp, sometimes called a 'lap shot,' scoops a delivery from a good length over the fine leg region — the batter flicks the bat under the ball and sends it in the direction the bowler came from. The reverse ramp does the opposite: the batter turns to face the off side (as if left-handed) and scoops the ball over the wicketkeeper toward third man or backward point. The reversal of direction is what makes it so disorienting for the fielding captain, who cannot set a field for both the ramp and the reverse ramp simultaneously.
Why It Unsettles Fielding Teams
A fast bowler delivering a full-pace bouncer or yorker expects the batter to either duck, pull, or play defensively. The reverse ramp turns the aggression back: the batter uses the pace of the delivery to direct it precisely over the wicketkeeper. A wicketkeeper who is leaning forward in anticipation of a mistimed hook shot cannot adjust quickly enough. The unguarded regions — third man and backward square leg boundary — are exactly where no fielder stands when the bowling captain is setting a short-ball field.
Risk and Reward
The reverse ramp carries real danger. The ball is directed toward or past the face, and a mistimed shot from a 145 km/h delivery can strike the batter on the head or neck. The shot requires the batter to get their head well inside the line of the ball — not pulling away — which is physically and psychologically demanding. Most batters practice it extensively in nets before attempting it in a match. When executed correctly it is nearly impossible to field; when mistimed it is an easy catch to short third man.
Frequently asked questions
Is the reverse ramp legal in cricket?
Yes — like the switch hit, it is a legal stroke as long as the batter does not switch their stance before the ball is delivered from the bowler's hand.
Can a left-handed batter play a reverse ramp?
A left-handed batter's standard ramp goes to third man. Their 'reverse' ramp would go over fine leg. The principles are mirrored.
When is the reverse ramp most effective?
Against short-pitched fast bowling, when third man and fine leg are vacant or only deep. It is also effective against yorkers, scooping them over the keeper when the ball is very full.