Cricket: Switch hit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(I hope I didn't lose my American audience at the word Cricket!)
Kevin Pietersen about to play a switch hit during a Test against South
Africa* in 2008. Note how despite being a right-handed batsmen, he has
assumed the grip and stance of a left-handed batsman.
A switch hit is a modern cricket shot believed to have been first used by England cricketer Kevin Pietersen[1] on 15 June 2008 in a one-day international
against New Zealand. Pietersen actually played the shot for the first
time of Muttiah Muralitharan in a test match against Sri Lanka in 2006.
The test occurred May 25-28, 2006. Despite the shot becoming a fad due
to Kevin Pietersen (there is certainly no argument about that), it is
believed that Jonty Rhodes actually executed this shot first for a six.
He hit a switch-hit six off Darren Lehmann in a one day international
between Australia and South Africa on March 27, 2002. A switch hit
involved effectively changed from a right-hander to a left-hander just
before the ball was delivered by the bowler for the purpose of executing
the shot. It is a variation of the reverse sweep, in which the stance is changed during the bowler's delivery action, has been compared to switch-hitting in baseball. Australia's David Warner is a notable user of this shot and was endorsed to use a double-faced bat in Twenty20 cricket.
The shot was innovated by Kevin Pietersen using which he hit 2 sixes in the cover
region. The shot is executed by changing stance from a right-handed to a
left-handed batsman or vice versa during the bowler's run-up and
hitting it in the cover (midwicket to a left-hander) region.
The shot has generated debate in the cricket world, some heralding it
as an outstanding display of skill and others arguing that if the
batsman changes stance he gains an unfair advantage over the bowler,
because the field is set based on the batsman's initial stance at the
crease.[2] The Marylebone Cricket Club
(MCC), guardians of the laws of cricket, has confirmed it will not
legislate against the switch shot and cited that the shot was perfectly
legal in accordance with cricketing laws.[3]
The MCC believes that the stroke is exciting for the game of cricket,
and highlighted Law 36.3 which defines the off side of the striker's
wicket as being determined by his stance at the moment the bowler starts
his run-up.[4]
The MCC has also acknowledged that the switch hit has implications on
the interpretation of the 'on side' and 'off side' for the purposes of
adjudicating on wides or leg before wicket decisions.[citation needed]
In June 2012, the International Cricket Council
(ICC) committee declared it to be a legitimate shot. They issued a
statement saying they have decided to make no change to the current
regulations.[1]
*NOTE:
Kevin Pietersen, born in South Africa, plays cricket for England hence he was playing against South
Africa