Marillier shot
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The Marillier shot is a modern shot in cricket which involves reversing the grip on the bat and using it as a ramp to flick a ball backwards over the batsman's shoulder for a boundary. It is a rare, risky, ungrammatical and unorthodox shot but when successfully used can be devastating. The only one to have used it with a significant amount of success is Douglas Marillier, after whom the shot is named. The shot is unique in being the only shot named after a person and one of the few that sends the ball directly behind the wicket-keeper.
[edit] History
In a triangular tournament in Australia with Zimbabwe, Australia and West Indies, Zimbabwe played their final match with Australia and Marillier got a chance in the team. He could hardly have had a more testing experience, as a fine Zimbabwe batting performance after Australia scored over 300 meant that he came in at number seven needing to score 15 in the final over, bowled by Glenn McGrath, to win the match.
He moved across to the first two balls he received from McGrath and flicked them over his shoulder to fine leg for boundaries, reviving hopes of an incredible Zimbabwe victory. But he was just unable to complete the job, and his team lost by one run. His two courageous and unorthodox boundary strokes, though, made him a legend, with the shot becoming known as the Marillier shot.
Marillier continued to do reasonably well for the national side. In 2002 he '"Marilliered"' Zimbabwe to a famous win in India in an One-day International with 56 not out at the death, although this time he used the shot against Zaheer Khan.
Other notable exponents of the Marillier shot include the New Zealand wicketkeeper, Brendon McCullum, the England opener, Andrew Strauss and the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting.
