Tendy's thoughts on Switch Hitting

Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar has thrown his hat in the ring
of debate hovering over Kevin Pietersen's now famous yet controversial
switch-hit.

Tendulkar, who was in England to watch a Formula One race, told
Reuters that although he was fine with the charismatic Englishman's
innovative shot, he would rather see the Marylebone Cricket Club,
custodians of cricket's laws, to modify their regulations to get on
with the game.

The MCC had earlier given Pietersen the green signal after the England
batsman hoicked New Zealand bowler Scott Styris for two sixes in an
over after he changed the traditional right-hander's batting grip to
that of a left-hander.

Following the furore over Pietersen's shot, the MCC considered it
within the law books, but Tendulkar said certain modifications in the
law pertaining to the particular stroke was required to determine leg
before decisions.

"I think they will have to look at it far more closely than has been
done; it changes the laws," Reuters quoted Tendulkar as saying. "It's
about lbw decisions, how are you going to decide which is off stump
and which is leg? he added.

Many former and current cricketers have objected to the shot as an
undue advantage for the batsman as a bowler does not get any such
liberties, Tendulkar noted that the shot was completely different from
the oft practised reverse sweep as the batsman becomes a left-hander
right at the delivery stride of the bowler.

"My opinion is that when a right-handed batsman takes his guard it
doesn't matter which shot he plays, he's a right hander and the field
can be set accordingly. The moment a right-handed batsman becomes a
left hander and changes his grip, changes his stance, then if you've
got three slips they become three leg slips — and it's a no ball,"
Tendulkar said.

But he offered a solution to make it simpler. "It's far more
complicated than it appears, the best option is probably to stick to
if he's a right hander, it doesn't matter where the ball pitches, the
off stump will always be off stump."

The Indian batting maestro reflected on a similar debate that began
when former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower and others introduced the
reverse sweep.

"These are the natural changes and innovations of the game," he said.
"Close to 10 years ago, when Andy Flower started playing reverse sweep
I said that in the next five years this would become a common shot.
Now many batsmen play it and in time more innovations will come from
batsmen and bowlers."

Tendulkar attributed the innovations to the latest form of the game:
Twenty20 cricket. "The game is changing, it's becoming more and more
attacking and players are prepared to take more risks," he said. "It's
only because the different versions have been introduced.

"In One-day cricket there are still spells when you just need to see
things through and in Test cricket that happens often. But if you can
chase 180 or 190 in 20 overs then why can't you chase 325 in 50 overs?
The thought process will definitely change," he added.

Tendulkar, who was originally in England to play for Lashings Cricket
Club, also made himself available for selection for the three-Test
series in Sri Lanka which begins later this month. "I'm perfectly all
right," Tendulkar, who hasn't played international cricket since the
first Test against South Africa in Chennai in March, said.

Legend.

im happy with the switch hit. for all those who arent, i think the bowler should also be allowed to throw the ball hand to hand as hes running up and decide on delivery stride which hand hes delivering it from.

obviously thats really hard to do, but then so is hitting something left handed

L's thoughts > T's thoughts.

But he offered a solution to make it simpler. "It's far more
complicated than it appears, the best option is probably to stick to
if he's a right hander, it doesn't matter where the ball pitches, the
off stump will always be off stump."

I'm at a loss as to why so many top players and pundits see switch hitting and enforcing the rules when it's used as complicated. If a player wants to swap hands let them do it, the only two rules that need bringing in as a result are that you can be out LBW if the ball is hitting the stumps regardless of where the ball pitches and wides can't be given if the batsmen misses the ball on either side of the stumps. Problem solved.

Deary me, he flew thousands of miles to watch cars go endlessly round and round.


L definitely > T.

<irony> He's a genius. </irony>

"My opinion is that when a right-handed batsman takes his guard it
doesn't matter which shot he plays, he's a right hander and the field
can be set accordingly. The moment a right-handed batsman becomes a
left hander and changes his grip, changes his stance, then if you've
got three slips they become three leg slips — and it's a no ball,"
Tendulkar said.

But he offered a solution to make it simpler. "It's far more
complicated than it appears, the best option is probably to stick to
if he's a right hander, it doesn't matter where the ball pitches, the
off stump will always be off stump."

Given that the off side and leg side are set when the bowler commences his run-up, what he's said is already the case. Waste of newsprint.

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Deary me, he flew thousands of miles to watch cars go endlessly round and round.

He has his in laws living in London.

SG wrote:

Lara Lara Laughs wrote:Deary me, he flew thousands of miles to watch cars go endlessly round and round.

He has his in laws living in London.

So he flew thousands of miles to watch cars go endlessly round and round.

So London's a place where you'd send your mother in law on an all expenses paid trip then.