switch hitting

[gatso]

ICC and MCC to look into whether Pietersen's switch hitting is legal. crazy really, people have been reverse sweeping for years with no issues

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/7456149.stm

[jizzemm]

To be fair to the umpires, they do need clarification on what the rules are, only from a point of Wides, and if how a player can be out LBW..

IMO rules should stay as they are and the batsman be classed as their original stance as the bowler is running in.. A bowler changing his run in, bowling arm etc is pretty difficult, and the only thing a bowler can change is going around the wicket instead of over, but that is dangerous, due to needing a white/black background..

[gatso]

I agree, all we need to know is which stump is to be considered as leg. no need for a rule change, just apply things exactly the same as they have for reverse sweeping, after all what pietersen is doing is essentially the same only much harder

[Nakor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU354DdX6Eg

Don't see how this is compared with Reverse Sweep, he is not just swapping his hands over, he is walking across the crease to change his stance, Bowlers action is declared why not Batsmans? Agree with Jizz how do you bowl a wide, LBW etc?

Having said all that I think its brilliant, let it stay.

[jizzemm]

Having said all that I think its brilliant, let it stay.

Yes excellent for sure, all that is needed is to know which one is Leg stump, then everything moves on from there..

[kinboshi]

Class. 

If they outlaw this then cricket is worse off in my opinion. 

[TheChipPrince]

They usually find a way to punish genius and ingenuity...

Cricket is moving fast, this shot is moving with the times...

[ripple11]

 great to watch...but you need to sort out the rules on it.

 you need to swap over moments before the bowler bowls (unlike the reverse sweep)... so  in future the bowler will just stop in his run up and reset the field...hence stalemate.

[Bongo]

Having said all that I think its brilliant, let it stay.

Yes excellent for sure, all that is needed is to know which one is Leg stump, then everything moves on from there..

Easy solution is to treat both sides as off stump I think, gives the bowler a little edge there (less wides, more lbw).

[jizzemm]

Easy solution is to treat both sides as off stump I think, gives the bowler a little edge there (less wides, more lbw).

Now how easy is that.... Simple rules.. Loving that Rule, might make the shot a lot more risky for the batsman.. 

[gatso]

 great to watch...but you need to sort out the rules on it.

 you need to swap over moments before the bowler bowls (unlike the reverse sweep)... so  in future the bowler will just stop in his run up and reset the field...hence stalemate.

pretty sure you won't get bowlers doing that as they'd fail to reach their required over rate, get fined their match fee, not be able to pay the mortgage and end up with their families starving in the street.

I like Bongo's solution, simple

[Rod Paradise]

Had an argument about this in the pub at lunch there (yes - in a Glasgow pub).


One thing you've not yet considered is the fielders in a limited overs game - they are not allowed to change position once the bowler starts his run up AFAIK - they are only allowed to close in towards the batsman. If they've set up for a right handed batsman, and he goes southpaw, they're all out of position and resticted to the wrong positions.

[gratuitous anti cricket as it's an english game comment] Mind you the game's that boring that you need something like this to liven up to a funeral.  [/gratuitous anti cricket as it's an english game comment]

[Josedinho]

Surely the simpler option is to elect which way you will be batting (like the bowler tells you which side he will be bowling from) and the leg stump is then decided from that. If the batsmen switches then its up to him but a bowler can't be given a wide for bowling behind a batsmen that has changed stance.

[Graham C]

MCC has said the shot is ok and will  not be banned.

Good stuff imo, it was a quality move

[Wardonkey]

Bongos' solution would create a situation where the bowler could just bowl from the legside towards leg stump. Very defensive and difficult to score off, not very exciting to watch.