The scoop never became as mainstream a T20 weapon as it was expected to be — the new-age pyrotechnical tool is the ramp. But among its few faithful is Jos Buttler, who of can unfurl a ramp or reverse-hit with equal dexterity, but whose signature shot remains the scoop.
The Englishman gives his own twist to his strokes. His ramp is more like a drag-flick in hockey, while his scoop is vastly different from those of both AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan, two of its finest proponents. Both de Villiers and Dilshan used to get down on their knees to deflect the ball over the keeper’s head. Dilshan used to get into the sweep-posture — get in line with the ball, crouch, meet the ball on the full and just flick it over his own and the wicketkeeper’s head. The South African used to swivel his body to cover the angle of the delivery, and often was on the ground after executing the shot.
