The Reverse Ramp in Cricket Explained
The reverse ramp is a modern T20 shot played by reversing the hands on the bat grip and deflecting a full ball fine over or past the wicket-keeper's head. Here is how it works.
The reverse ramp is a T20 batting innovation — played by reversing the hands on the bat (top hand becomes bottom, bottom becomes top) as the bowler delivers, then deflecting a full ball over or past the wicket-keeper toward third man or fine leg. It is closely related to the scoop and reverse sweep, and is one of several modern attacking strokes designed to exploit gaps behind the wicket that fielding captains rarely cover.
How is the reverse ramp played?
The batter begins the stroke while the bowler is mid-action — switching the bottom hand to become the top hand and opening the bat face upward. As the ball arrives full, the batter angles the bat face toward fine third man or behind the wicket-keeper, using the ball's pace to deflect it over or past the field. The timing is extremely late — the shot is completed when the ball is almost at the crease.
Reverse ramp vs standard ramp vs scoop
The standard ramp (or paddle) deflects the ball over the wicket-keeper without reversing the hands — played to a ball on or outside leg stump. The scoop is played to a full yorker on leg stump, scooped directly over the keeper's head. The reverse ramp reverses the hands and targets the off side of the keeper — fine third man. All three exploit the unguarded area behind the wicket, but approach it from different angles.
Who uses the reverse ramp?
The reverse ramp has become a signature shot for aggressive T20 batters including Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, and Kevin Pietersen (who popularised early forms of the shot). In women's cricket, batters like Sophie Devine and Tammy Beaumont use the stroke in powerplay overs when the field is in. It is most effective in the first 6 overs, when fine third man is often inside the ring.