What is the most difficult cricket shot to successfully pull off?

[honestbharani]

Don’t think anyone did that before Viv.

I think Botham hit a few in that ridiculous knock in Headingley in 81 or something?

 

[subshakerz]

It’s difficult to even appreciate how hard it is to play that shot.

Most bats would just play it on the front foot. Playing it on the back foot requires complete balance of the bat, timing and with Tendulkars height a bit of lift on his feet in playing the shot. So much could go wrong.

 

[subshakerz]

In terms of risk, I always felt that that little tickle past the slip area off of spinners is so risky. I used to get frights when I saw guys like Anwar pull it off successfully.

 

[Arachnodouche]

In terms of risk, I always felt that that little tickle past the slip area off of spinners is so risky. I used to get frights when I saw guys like Anwar pull it off successfully.

Ranatunga used to chip it off the wicketkeeper's gloves, the cheeky bastard. Literally a case of haath aaya par mooh naa lagaa.

 

[mackembhoy]

Barely any player can hook well these days.

More of a pull shot that they top edge.

 

[Arachnodouche]

Barely any player can hook well these days.

More of a pull shot that they top edge.

How about the classical square cut behind point with the front foot moving across-and-back, the sort Ritchie Richardson, David Boon, and Robin Smith used to play against extreme pace? Gone out of the game entirely.

 

[King Kane]

I was an old fashioned opener so most shots were difficult, I was good at leaving the ball though and defending the ball when it was on the stumps.

My best shot was the cut shot or the educated edge past the slips or between them, I couldn't play a ramp shot as that shot wasn't invented back then,.

 

[howitzer]

I was an old fashioned opener so most shots were difficult, I was good at leaving the ball though and defending the ball when it was on the stumps.

My best shot was the cut shot or the educated edge past the slips or between them, I couldn't play a ramp shot as that shot wasn't invented back then,.

I was always a master of the uneducated edge to 2nd slip.

 

[Burgey]

Most bats would just play it on the front foot. Playing it on the back foot requires complete balance of the bat, timing and with Tendulkars height a bit of lift on his feet in playing the shot. So much could go wrong.

It’s just hard to generate power and timing off balls which are that length unless you’re given a stack of room to free your arms. Guys who bludgeon the ball rarely if ever play it, it’s more the preserve of pure timers like Tendulkar or Martyn. Steve Waugh used to play it well, especially when he was younger but he did it more when given proper width. Ponting sort of half played it but he had a chronic injury in his forearm which meant he played the cut with a 45 degree angled bat most of the time anyways. Honestly, it and the on drive are the purest shots in cricket imo.

 

[TheJediBrah]

More importantly who is the most difficult cricketer to successfully pull off?

 

[Burgey]

Krezja or Garner would be in the argument

 

[mr_mister]

I found lofted cover drives fairly natural to play, got 18 runs in an over once all from shots through point and cover


Hooks and pulls I never really got the hang of to do consistently. Got struck in the ribs and gut a few times then just put it away more or less. Only against spinners could I fully embrace the legside through sweeps

 

[Yeoman]

I found lofted cover drives fairly natural to play, got 18 runs in an over once all from shots through point and cover


Hooks and pulls I never really got the hang of to do consistently. Got struck in the ribs and gut a few times then just put it away more or less. Only against spinners could I fully embrace the legside through sweeps

I played at a modest level anyway, however I was the exact opposite - couldn’t get it away on the offside at all unless the ball was really wide of the off stump. Turned everything to leg.

 

[h_hurricane]

 

[Blenkinsop]

I am always impressed by the late cut to the pace bowlers as played by Ian Bell, Joe Root, Harry Brook etc. No idea how that's even possible.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I found lofted cover drives fairly natural to play

Agree. I don't think they're a difficult shot to play at all. A classy timed cover drive along the ground for 4 is harder

 

[Darwin Award]

Back foot cover drive.

Steve Waugh's favourite shot I think I recall.

Shouldn't have been considering just how many times he got himself out playing that stroke.

 

[JBMAC]

Bradman playing to a rising ball outside the off stump and hooking it for four. Seen him do it many times but when i tried it was easily caught behind.

 

[Brook's side]

I think it depends what standard you are. For me it would probably have been the hook shot (discounting reverse shots etc which didn't use to exist).

 

[Brook's side]

Bradman playing to a rising ball outside the off stump and hooking it for four. Seen him do it many times but when i tried it was easily caught behind.

Easily caught behind?

If you aren't even giving tricky chances, then you're nowhere near as good as Bradman was.