Ramp Shot in Cricket: Deflecting the Ball Over the Keeper's Head
The ramp shot (also called the upper cut) deflects a fast delivery over the wicketkeeper or third man's head for four or six — a modern T20 batting innovation.
The ramp shot in cricket is a late-contact batting shot that intentionally deflects a short or back-of-length delivery over the wicketkeeper's head, through fine leg or behind the wicketkeeper — areas that are typically unguarded at the back of the leg side. By angling the bat face and making contact with the ball late in its trajectory, the batter redirects pace already on the ball toward the unguarded region behind the keeper. At pace, a cleanly executed ramp can travel to the boundary despite minimal power from the batter — the bowler's pace does the work.
Technique
The ramp requires the batter to stand relatively tall (avoiding the crouch of a pull shot) and to angle the bat face upward and backward toward fine leg as the ball arrives at or above waist height. The key is making contact with the bat angled at approximately 45 degrees to the pitch, using the ball's own pace to launch it over the keeper. Some batters go down on one knee to create a better angle; others play it standing. Against genuine pace bowling (150+ km/h), even a soft edge of the bat ramped at the right angle can travel 40-50 metres. The shot is most effective against pace — slower bowling doesn't carry sufficiently to the boundary.
Origins and Modern Usage
The ramp shot was popularised in T20 cricket from the late 2000s as batters sought new ways to score off short-pitched deliveries without having to pull the ball across the line (the conventional response). Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard and AB de Villiers were among the prominent early exponents of the ramp in international T20 cricket. By the 2020s, the ramp had become standard in professional T20 cricket — both as a planned shot against specific bowling plans and as a response to unexpected short balls from pace bowlers trying to cramp batters for room. The shot is now taught at academy level in countries with strong T20 programs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ramp shot in cricket?
The ramp shot deflects a short or back-of-length delivery over the wicketkeeper's head toward fine leg or behind the keeper, using the bowler's pace by angling the bat face upward at contact. It requires late contact and an upward bat angle to redirect the ball to the unguarded region behind the stumps.
Is the ramp shot difficult to execute?
Yes — the ramp requires precise timing and confidence in making late contact with pace deliveries. Mistiming the ramp produces an edge that either goes straight up (a catch) or doesn't have enough power to reach the boundary. The shot is also risky against deliveries aimed at the stumps — angling the bat up on a straight ball risks edging to the wicketkeeper.
Who plays the ramp shot best in international cricket?
Jos Buttler (England) is widely regarded as the most accomplished ramp-shot player in international cricket. Kieron Pollard (West Indies), MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers were notable exponents. Buttler's ability to ramp 150 km/h deliveries over the keeper's head — converting potential yorkers or bouncers into boundaries — has been one of England's defining batting assets in their white-ball dominance from 2019.