The Most Amazing Thing About Elliott’s Six

I’ve replayed the video clip of Grant Elliott’s match-winning six over and over, and I can’t get over how incredible that shot was. (Here's the clip.)

Dale Steyn served him a length ball, albeit a fast one, cutting away. I couldn’t see the field setting for the delivery. But the line (and Elliott's shot) suggested there may have been three men back on the off-side, leaving just one guy manning the on-side.

It was stupendous for Elliott to fetch it from outside the off-stump, swing it across the line and send it so far back wide of long-on. To do it all under immense pressure, and against the world’s best pace bowler, makes it even more unbelievable.

But that’s not the only reason why the shot was great. In the clip, look how Elliott sets himself up: he shuffles his back-foot deep into the crease, clears his left leg and opens up the whole arc between midwicket and long-on.

Which is exactly how AB de Villiers sets himself up during the slog overs. And you'll see AB playing this shot again and again and again when he's in an attacking mood.

That’s right: Elliott knocked AB out of the World Cup by playing AB's signature shot. How about that?