Batters in cricket are tasked with scoring runs all around the field. They hit shots off balls that are hurled at them at different lines and lengths. In the era of power hitting, it has almost become a mandate to be skillful enough to hit shots in every part of the ground. One such shot that is rarely seen but prevalent is the agriculture shot.
A farmer uses a scythe to cut crops or grass. This tool has a curved and a long blade which makes its motion very typical. It is used such that the tool is moved sideways to cover a significant area in the shape of an arc. In cricket, batters too at times slog the bat aimlessly like a scythe to expect some runs being scored.
This shot by a batter is the agriculture shot. The motion of the bat resembles the motion of the scythe. There is no footwork involved. Thus, while using the scythe motion, batters tend to chip off an area of the pitch. This led to the name, agriculture shot.
Skilled batters rarely play the agriculture shot. Tail-enders of the batting order who are more skilled in bowling are more vulnerable to hitting an agriculture shot. This shot is played when the ball pitches at a fuller length outside the off-stump. The scythe motion of the bat is intended to direct the ball between the square-leg and mid-wicket region.
In international cricket, it is rare to see an agriculture shot. Followers of the sport are more likely to witness this shot in domestic cricket, often at the club level.
