McCullum’s ‘ramp shot’ raising cricket excitement levels

NAPIER - New Zealand hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has revealed that his latest weapon - the ramp shot - has evolved over a period of time, and he is now using it with telling effect.

When asked about the origins of the shot, McCullum told the New Zealand Herald: “None really. All the guys around the world are starting to open up new areas of the ground and this is the way to access it. Twenty20 is evolving, Dilshan started it and Ryan Campbell [Western Australia] has done it and I just decided to try it.”

“I don’t know when I started. It just kind of happened. I can’t put my finger on it,” he added.

When asked how many times he had been hit in the nets practicing it, McCullum said: “I’ve been hit a few times. It’s harder to play in the nets than in the middle because the nets have a space restriction and I can’t get out of the way as much.”

He also said that Sri Lankan opening bat Tillekratne Dilshan is the best at it.

“His is different to how I play it, he stands there and executes it over his head which is amazing. I just try and get out the way and put my bat there,” McCullum said.

Asked if he thought the shot was premeditated, he replied in the affirmative.

“It definitely is. It is born straight out of anticipating the ball will be full and how can you access the boundary from a perfect Yorker,” he said. (ANI)