Should the 'Switch hitting' Sweep be banned?

[Leicester Fox]

4) when KP plays the shot 1 hand 1 bounce comes into play to een it up for the bowler

It's a great shot, a lot of shots that will be used today will have been really inventive at 1 point but now they're just accpeted. Let the game move on although I guess you can change the lbw rules to even it up.

 

[Owzat]

Are you talking about the Pietersen shot yesterday or are you talking about normal reverse sweeps? Since the shot Pietersen played yesterday wasn't actually a reverse sweep because he actually played a sweep left handed.

I don't think it will be "banned". The issue I think is whether you should be considered a left hander when playing it. You do change your grip before the bowler delivers the ball. Of course then that would question about lbw and where the ball pitches regarding lbw.

Then clarify it in the LBW law by stating that leg stump and off stump are determined by the stance of the batsman BEFORE the bowler starts his run up.

End of the debate? I doubt it. Is the shot 'against the spirit of the game' ? No more than charging the bowler or scooting to off or leg as the bowler comes in. He took a risk given the time he had to play the shot and hit it perfectly, had he got out a la Gatting then there wouldn't be this fuss and he'd look an idiot. Is it different to the reverse sweep? No. Why not? Because I know of no law that states you have to stay put or hold the bat a certain way so he can hold the bat as he likes and stand where he likes.

I say it is no more 'against the spirit of the game' than bowling at leg stump and trying to bowl a batsman round his legs, bowling wide (or short) deliberately to slow the run rate down or aiming AT the batsman to hit him or 'rough him up'. Even the argument that he moved before the point of delivery is tenuous, noone questions movement in the crease or out of the crease in that respect. The bowler bowled, KP played a different and risky shot and pulled it off.

So in answer to the thread question, no the reverse sweep should not be banned and neither should the KP shot. As far as I am aware the laws do not prohibit batsmen from movement in the crease or where and how they stand and don't restrict how they hold the bat.

 

[DPRA]

It has just been confirmed that the MCC will NOT legislate against the Shot.

 

[King Pietersen]

Where was this confirmed ? BBC says they'll defer the decision to the full committee meeting in August.

edit: That's strange, SSN giving the breaking news. So much for their decision made in this article then: Link !

 

[DPRA]

Where was this confirmed ? BBC says they'll defer the decision to the full committee meeting in August.

edit: That's strange, SSN giving the breaking news. So much for their decision made in this article then: Link !

Sky Sports News just now.

 

[Highlander999]

Yup. I was actually considering batting left-handed in my game on Sunday as the pitch we were using was on the far side of the square and the boundary was twice as long on one side as the other.
Got a bit fed up when 3 slog sweeps that would probably got 6 each only netted me 3 2's!!!
Then I tried it in practice and am sure I would have been bowled or caught instantly...

You still complaing about that? The rope really isn't that far away, it's a small pitch

It has just been confirmed that the MCC will NOT legislate against the Shot.

That is good to hear they are not total idiots

 

[Cricketman]

Switch-hit given the all clear

Good news.

 

[evertonfan]

No it shouldn't as it's the kind of showboating cricket needs. Also, the risk factor involved in playing it is incredibly high and the bowler should be encouraged by a batsmen performing this shot. I think Bob Willis pretty much nails it with this article;

http://www.skysports.com/experts/expert_story/0,19793,12932_3698942,00.html

 

[The Spin]

Well I have heard from Bumble commentating on the Lancs/Durham T20 that Mal Loye thought of it first but didnt get a chance to do it and is now annoyed KP has nicked it

If you can this, then it starts a chain. Is moving around the crease excessively not fair then? Its a good decision to allow it, we just need LBW and wide laws confirming.

 

[Master Khan]

I can remember Younus Khan doing that shot and I think it takes alot of skills and risk to play that shot.
And I don't know why it should be banned?

 

[King Pietersen]

Younus Khan played the switch-hit ? Or are you confusing it with the conventional Reverse Sweep ?

 

[Master Khan]

no I watch him turn to a left hander and hit the ball for a 4:happy

 

[Cricketman]

I think it was a reverse sweep mate.


I think bowlers should be allowed to bowl with the opposite hand. Ambidextrous people like me will wreck havoc

 

[irottev]

So long as bowlers won't be called for bowling a wide when someone does it, I have no problem. He did it to Styris and Styris bowled it leg side to him. I'm sure if Pietersen tried it gain, Styris has thought about it more now and could bounce/yorker him or bowl it behind him.

I doubt he could do it to a pace bowler.

 

[Deleted member 13648]

Both shots were pure brilliance and great to watch. The people who want it banned are completely out of touch of the modern game and tbh, they need a reality check. Personally, my favourite form of International cricket is T20. You can obviously put it down to my age and that the pick-up and play aspect of the format but I watch sport to be entertained. There's no point watching a sport and knowing what's going to happen. KP's showing whole new dimensions to cricket and it should be welcomed with open arms.