Cricket-switch hitting to be banned?

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 16 June 2008

Had the pleasure of watching England vs NZ in the sunshine at Durham this weekend, and watching KP hit Styris for two sixes by swapping grip and smacking him left handed over the boundary. No reverse-sweeps these, the second one in particular was not far off straight.

Now I hear that the MCC may ban this 'switch hitting'. Why? If KP had been bowled trying to do it I suspect we'd not be having this discussion. Surely such a tactic is going to misfire as often as it works and fair play to a batsman for trying something so audacious. It got a huge cheer and I'll guarantee that in our net practice this week (and in kid's school lessons) we'll all be falling over and making a general idiot of ourselves trying to replicate it.

Sport is entertainment, with the exception of 11 Kiwis we all enjoyed him doing it on Sunday so butt out MCC!

Bruce
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by nicnaim
Bruce,

I was there myself, and would have said hello if I had realised. Which Superhero were you Winker The Police were being particularly vigilant on the way in, as someone dressed as a superhero had scaled the Tyne Bridge as part of the fathers for justice campaign. Still there as far as I know.

KP's shots were absolutely outrageous, and just get better with each replay. If he has the ability, speed of thought and movement to be able to play such a shot, he should be allowed to.

He had some pretty wild slashes at the ball early in his innings, that I thought he was lucky to get away with, but got stronger as the innings wore on.

Great entertainment and nice to see us win at the Riverside for a change. My first in about five visits.

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Steve S1
quote:
so butt out MCC!


Covers it for me. He risked looking a complete goose if he had got bowled. All's fair...

Steve
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse
As someone who usually gets his fix of cricket at Headingley I was struck by the generally moderate and respectful crowd, and the rather poor Fancy Dress turnout! Quite nice not to be showered in beer with every run scored though.

It took us ages to get in the ground though, arrived about 9.45am in Chester-Le-Street and still missed the first 5 overs.

I thopugh Owais Shah actually batted better, and hit beatifully straight.

Bruce
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by DAVOhorn
Dear All,

This seems daft after they allowed a certain bowler from the Indian sub continent to er not quite chuck/throw the ball in a fashion i was not taught in my formative years of playing the Game.

So why the discrimination?

Dare i say that this was not done by a player from the Indian sub continent.

Oh i forgot they now play BASEBALL instead of cricket. Well that is what it looks like to me.

regards David
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Ears
With switch-hitting there will be some intervention required by the authorities in the definition of what is off-side and what is leg-side. So I think we should wait until they speak.
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Phil Ward
David,

My understanding is that the, "certain bowler from the Indian sub continent" has been proven, through repeated independent analysis of his action, not to chuck/throw the ball. That's why xenophobic umpires don't have an excuse to call him anymore. Presumably your reluctance to name him in your post is motivated by a desire not to find yourself in need of a libel lawyer.

Phil
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Now I hear that the MCC may ban this 'switch hitting'. Why?


Bruce

That's obvious,

If 'switching hitting' were allowed then a mediocre cricketer like me who averaged about 5 with a local team, could face bowlers like Glenn McGrath, or indeed, our own Ryan Sidebotham and dispatch them for 6 after 6. I could just wander in and score a double-ton before lunch, have a nice three course meal with some wine and after dinner brandy and mints, and then resume in the afternoon and continue putting willow to ball in the shape of 'switch hitting' to the extreme discomfort of William Frindall, the bearded wonder, and other match scorers. Umpires would suffer pains in the arm, from having to continually raise both above their heads. England would regain the Ashes ..... where would it end.

I rest my case.

ATB Rotf
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by BigH47
Rotf
Yours must be a really special planet!! Razz
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Nigel Cavendish
As I understand it a bowler has to tell the umpire if he is to change hands.

It is impossible for a batsman to declare in advance because he does not know whether he will even attempt it until the ball has left the bowler's hand.

However, switch hitting does have, if successful, disproportionate effect in that it nullifies the fielders' defence, unlike simple(?) reverse sweep.

So, in my view, it should be banned.
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by manicatel
I would think that the ability to score dramatic 6's & the frequency with which the batsmen will make a complete prat of themselves would equal out in the long term.
The downsides of switch hitting would appear that it makes it look more like baseball,(could argue that the 20/twenty format might do that as well?) All home runs, etc. At least its a spectacle for the non-purists who have an ever shortening attention span.
Secondly, would the lbw decision making process become a lot harder for umpires?
Matt.
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by nicnaim
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:

"It took us ages to get in the ground though, arrived about 9.45am in Chester-Le-Street and still missed the first 5 overs."
Bruce


Bruce,

Getting there is frustrating with the traffic situation. As usual we got an 8 seater taxi from Newcastle, but still ended up walking the last mile or so, missing the first couple of overs. Two of our party who drove, missed the first hour after being caught in the snarl up.

It should no longer be a surprise to the Police that there will be congestion during tests, I just wish that it was managed slightly better.


If you were not being showered with beer, you must have been in the posh seats with us. Block 9, South Terrace, a snip at £65 a throw!

Regards

Nic
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Bruce Woodhouse
Amazing, Block 5 South Terrace!

Great view though.
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by KenM
I understand that the MCC will not ban switch hitting, and indeed, why on earth should they?
Did this story originate with the MCC or was it just another one dreamt up to make a good newspaper headline?
Ken
Posted on: 17 June 2008 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by BigH47:
Rotf
Yours must be a really special planet!! Razz


Yes all kinds of impossible things happen on the planet Rotf: England win the world cup beating Australia convincingly in the final, the Tractor Boys win the FA Cup, an Englishman wins Wimbledon and I get an interesting project at work - what a shame it's only make believe.

Still we all have dreams - please click here
Posted on: 18 June 2008 by DAVOhorn
DEar Phil,

I could not remember his name.

regards david
Posted on: 19 June 2008 by fentontfox
The skill and natural ability to do this at that level of cricket is so rare that a ban would be a futile gesture imho.