As cricket continues to evolve with T20 cricket, the batting and bowling styles also undergo changes. Batting, in particular, has seen quite a bit of invention with several unorthodox shots making their way into the cricket textbooks.
Cricket is a constantly evolving sport. While the prime technique for both batting and bowling remain unchanged, variations in execution add an element of surprise to the game. Naturally, the audience finds as much joy in watching unorthodox shots as much as classic shots.
While it is generally thought that unorthodox shots are easier to execute than the classic ones, the truth is that they are just as difficult if not more. However, there is no denying the fact that these unorthodox shots carry a wow factor. Further, the shortest format of the game, T20 cricket, has increased their sighting manifold.
Easily the most common one on the list, the upper cut is a cheeky counter to a bouncer outside off-stump. The batsmen generally go low and wait for the delivery to pass him on the side. At that moment, they open the face of the bat and guide the ball above slip cordon for a boundary or a six.
Sachin Tendulkar used to employ this unorthodox shot in all forms of the game, including Test cricket. Similarly, the likes of Virender Sehwag and Shikhar Dhawan have this weapon in their arsenal.
Another shot which can be found even in the longer formats of the game is the reverse sweep. As the name suggests, this is a horizontal stroke executed in the opposite direction of the traditional sweep. Thus, the ball is swept from the leg side to the offside of the batsman, which usually negates the fielding set by the opposition.
Reverse Sweep Is Played Against Spin Balls
This unorthodox shot is a common weapon against spin bowling in the modern game. Players such as AB de Villiers and Jos Buttler constantly employ their own variations of this stroke.
This unorthodox shot became proper in the 2000s, thanks to Zimbabwe batsman Douglas Marillier. In order to execute this shot, the batsman usually crouches and shapes the bat like a ramp. Thus, a good- to full-length delivery gets lifted off the ramp behind the wicketkeeper and fine leg area.
This unorthodox shot is now employed by several batsmen and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan produced his own version of it, famously known as the ‘Dilscoop’ during his international career.
A shot which carries a genuine wow factor, this shot literally sees a right-handed batsman adopt a left-handed stance and vice-versa. The batsman ‘switches’ just before the ball is released by the bowler and hoicks it for a boundary on the actual off-side.
Shifting From Right Hand To Left And Vice Versa Is Called The Switch Hit
England’s maverick, Kevin Pietersen, made this shot famous before the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell adopted it as well.
Undoubtedly the most famous shot in the Indian subcontinent, this stroke was massively popularized by MS Dhoni. This shot is one of the most difficult to execute, as it is usually used to counter a yorker-length delivery. The batsman uses high bat-speed and a strong bottom hand to dig the ball out with enough power to reach the boundary.
MS Dhoni is often credited for this unorthodox shot and recently, Virat Kohli has started using it as well.
Thus, these are easily the top 5 unorthodox shots in the sport. Feel free to mention yours in the comments section below.
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