What's the best cricket shot to learn to play well?

Hi Larry, I've always believed if a batter can play a straight drive they have the foundation of a good technique to score a lot of runs

Larry, if you can have solid defensive shots, off both the front and back foot, that is an excellent foundation to then move onto learning all of the attacking shots available, if you cannot keep the good balls out, you will not be able to deal with the bad ones. There are 1000s of training videos available on the internet for defensive and attacking shots.

I think the shot that is a natural shot , one that you own and never miss.
My shot was a shot that I worked on the leg side between mid on and backward square , it helped me get off strike ( or pinch the strike) and it never failed.
Probably been bought up on bouncy cement wickets helped .
It wasn’t a big shot normally a 1 or 2 but really hardly missed out .

Back foot vertical bat attacking shot. If you can play this one well then front foot vertical bat shots are easy as well. Best to learn a full swing of the bat first as it will highlight and balance and grip issues a player may have. Defensive shots are then just attacking shots without a follow through. Horizontal bat shots to the leg side are a pretty natural swing pattern for most people so they don't need anywhere as much attention to develop.

Master the vertical bat first then develop the rest of the game.

The On drive

A N Y shot that helps you easily get off strike, until the time you want to be on strike!

Love the different perspectives we all have. The shot I place the highest regard for is being able to the hit the ball on the ground at will between the bowler and square leg. If you can do this, you will be balanced (head in a good position relative to your feet; you will be able to access the ball (upper body over the ball to hit it on the ground); you will have bat face control (take the ball off a straight line and direct it into a gap); you will have a confidence of the ball being bowled at you; you will be well resourced to protect your stumps; you will likely cause bowlers to bowl outside the stumps on the off side creating more balls to leave if you wish or to free your arms to hit the ball; you will require a 5/4 field ensuring more gaps on both sides of the wicket to score. While there is no right or wrong answer here, this was the ability I hated bowling to the most.