Ten Best Scoop Shot Players in Cricket

After the introduction of T20 cricket, the game has become fast-paced as the batters as well as the bowlers have become smarter. Fielding has also become one of the main tools.

When it comes to batting, one stroke that has gained more traction is the scoop shot. A batter plays the scoop shot by kneeling down on one leg and chipping the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head.

Some batters move outside the off-stump to play this shot. It needs exceptional hand-eye coordination, quick athleticism, quick hands, flexible wrists, and placement to direct the ball over the wicketkeeper’s head and place it between the third man and fine-leg fielder.

In this piece, we discuss ten players who excelled in scoop shots with their footwork and skilful shot selection. Although these players had their own techniques for playing this shot, they showcased their expertise.

We take a look at these ten players:

Doug Marillier (Zimbabwe)

Marillier might be a surprise inclusion in this list but the former Zimbabwe batter discovered this shot. Marillier played this shot before T20 cricket was introduced.

He played the ramp shot with ease. He used to bring his right leg outside the off stump and guide the ball over the keeper and fine leg.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka)

Dilshan brought a new feature to this shot as he kneeled down on his left leg and chipped it over the wicketkeeper. The former Sri Lankan opener introduced this shot during the 2009 T20 World Cup, which was called “Dilscoop”.

The former right hander used his wrists to good effect and used the pace of the bowler to direct the ball between third man and fine leg.

Jos Buttler (England)

The dashing wicketkeeper batter connects the ball cleanly with his powerful forearms. The right-hander takes his front leg outside the off stump to have a clear view of the ball and then chips it over the wicketkeeper. Buttler plays the scoop with the utmost authority and accuracy.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Arguably one of the most unorthodox stroke players in modern-day cricket, Maxwell puts his weight on the back foot and takes his front leg forward to get the connection from the middle of the bat.

He plays the shot with power and placement. Sometimes the right-hander moves wide of the off stump to hit the shot between the wicketkeeper and fine leg.

AB De Villiers (South Africa)

‘Mr. 360 degrees’ as he is fondly called for his variety of shots, de Villiers shuffles across the off stump, where he kneels down to hit the shot cleanly and get the connection.

It helps him keep his balance while changing his footwork at the last moment. His hand-eye coordination was incredible when he played that shot.

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Suryakumar Yadav (India)

Arguably one of the most unorthodox batters in T20 cricket, Suryakumar Yadav sits on his left knee and makes the scoop shot look so simple.

The right-hander sometimes hits the shot over the wicketkeeper or sometimes between the wicketkeeper and sometimes manages to clear the boundary over the fine leg fielder. His hand-eye coordination enables him to judge the length early.

Ben Stokes (England)

Stokes takes his front leg just outside the off stump, with his back leg in front of the leg stump. His footwork and stance enable him to get to the line of the ball early, combined with his reach and extension of arms. The England all-rounder manages to keep a steady balance while playing the shot.

Eoin Morgan (England)

Morgan played the scoop shot over the wicketkeeper’s head quite similarly to how Tillakaratne Dilshan played. He kneeled down by extending his front leg forward and used the bowler’s pace to place it between the fine leg and third-man area.

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

McCullum played some fine cricketing shots, but when it came to T20 cricket, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter and skipper was innovative with his stroke play.

He played the scoop shot effortlessly without enough foot movement or the extension of his arms, and he used his ability to get into the line of the ball quickly.

Tom Latham (New Zealand)

Latham can play all around the wicket with his innovative style of play and one such shot is the scoop shot. The left-hander makes the shot look simple as he brings his wrists into play.

When the ball is bowled outside the off stump, he extends his stance by taking his front leg around the middle stump area, and his extension of arms helps him keep his balance while placing the ball.

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