The Ramp Shot in Cricket: Playing Over the Keeper's Head
What the ramp shot is, how batters use it to score over third man and fine leg, and why it has become a staple of modern T20 cricket's short-pitched attacking repertoire.
The ramp shot is a T20-era batting innovation — the batter ducks under or beside a fast, full delivery and angles the bat to 'ramp' the ball over the wicketkeeper's head toward fine leg or third man. When executed correctly, it is almost undefendable — there is typically no fielder above the keeper. When mistimed, it can hit the batter's body, glove, or produce a simple catch to the keeper.
How It Works
Against a fast, full delivery (often a yorker attempt or near-yorker), the batter moves toward the off side and opens the bat face skyward. Rather than driving through the ball, the bat is held at an angle — the ball hits the face and is deflected upward and over the keeper's head. The angle of the bat determines whether the ball goes fine (past short fine leg) or squarer (third man area).
Versus the Scoop
The ramp and scoop are often used interchangeably but technically differ. The scoop (or 'Dilscoop', associated with Tillakaratne Dilshan) is played to a full ball on the stumps, with the bat scooped under the ball to loft it over the keeper's head. The ramp is played to a shorter, harder delivery, with the bat angled to redirect the ball's pace over the keeper. In practice, most batters call both shots 'ramps'.
Risks
The primary risks: hitting the ball to the keeper for a simple caught-behind; a mistimed ramp going straight up for a caught-and-bowled; and being hit by the ball if the movement is incomplete. It also requires fast reflexes — against 145 km/h bowling, there is very little time to execute the ramp, and a wrong-footed movement can result in the ball striking the body or helmet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ramp shot in cricket?
The ramp shot involves angling the bat to deflect a fast, full delivery over the wicketkeeper's head toward fine leg or third man. The batter opens the bat face skyward rather than driving through the ball, using the bowler's pace to redirect the ball over the keeper for four or six.
Who invented the ramp shot in cricket?
Several batters developed ramp-type shots in the 1990s–2000s, but Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) made the 'Dilscoop' — a specific variant of the ramp — globally famous during the 2009 ICC World T20, where he used it to devastating effect against fast bowlers.
Is the ramp shot allowed in cricket?
Yes — the ramp shot is entirely legal in cricket. There is no rule preventing a batter from deflecting the ball over the keeper's head. Wicketkeepers must stand back far enough against fast bowling, and the keeper's position creates the gap the ramp exploits.