Ramp Shot in Cricket — Technique, When to Use It & Variations

The ramp shot (also called the 'upper cut over fine leg' or 'scoop') is a batting shot in which the batter gets inside the line of a full or yorker-length delivery and deflects the ball off a horizontal bat — or the leading edge — over the wicketkeeper for a boundary behind square. It turns a potential wicket-taking delivery (the yorker) into a run-scoring opportunity.

Technique

The key to the ramp is positioning. The batter moves across to the off side, opening the stance. Against a delivery aimed at the stumps, the batter then angled the bat face to direct the ball over fine leg or square leg. Against a wider delivery, the face is angled to direct it over the wicketkeeper. The bat is essentially used as a ramp — held at an angle so the ball glances off it and flies in the direction of the angled face rather than being struck conventionally.

Why it is effective

Death bowlers plan their economy around yorkers: they remove the half-volley and the full toss, taking away conventional boundary shots. The ramp defeats this plan entirely — it takes a yorker, the best death-bowling weapon, and converts it into a four or six. Fine leg and fine leg-boundary are also typically ungarded in the final overs (captains use those fielders at long-on and long-off), so a well-executed ramp finds the boundary.

Variations: the scoop and the Dilscoop

Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka developed the 'Dilscoop' — a variant in which the batter crouches down very low and scoops the ball over their own helmet and the wicketkeeper for a six. It requires exceptional reflexes and a very specific stance adjustment. MS Dhoni's 'helicopter shot' is related but different: it involves a strong downswing with top-hand dominance to hit through mid-on or over long-on. The ramp proper is strictly a deflection shot — no follow-through power needed.