So..."switch hitting", yes or no?

[Bazal]

This issue seems likely to pop up again after tonight...what are your thoughts on batsmen switching stance to hit? Personally I think it should be allowed, if anything it gives the bowler more of a chance with the batsmen off balance and out of his normal comfort zone. I can't see how it's any more "against the spirit of the game" than a bowler bowling a slower ball or hiding the pill when it's reversing...

As a side note, I don't think Oxenford should be telling players what is and isn't in the spirit of the game, especially if there are no laws preventing it. His job is to adjudicate the laws of the game, not to debate the spirit of it with the players.

 

[lockyno1]

What is the big isse. If the batsmen are good enough, go for it. It fails more than it works anyway. Have seen Piterson get out a fair few times doing it. Risky shot. Go for it.

 

[Twizzle]

will have to change the LBW rule interpretation

if the ball pitches outside leg, it will actually be outside off if they switch, so it can then be given out

apart from that, I'm all for it in T/20s

 

[Bobby DIGital]

I agree with Tubs.

 

[aussies1st]

Don't see a problem with it if we do what Twiz said with the LBW rule. The bowler is also able to bowl it down leg side since that originally would have been a normal delivery for the left hander.

 

[TimmyB]

I'm against it.

Can't remember which commentator was saying it, but they noted the inconsistency that a bowler can't change hands or the approach to the wicket, but a batsmen can change his stance. I don't see how "if the bastmen can do it" is an argument. It would take a lot of skill to switch hands bowling - doesn't make it lawful.

 

[aussies1st]

I'm sure the bowler could change hands during his approach just its a lot harder to do. The reason they have to indicate which approach is for the sightscreens, if they were bigger then I see no reason why the bowler can't change his approach.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

What if there's a 7-2 offside field?..it then becomes a 7-2 onside field. That's not fair on the fielding side IMHO.

 

[TheParraboy]

T20 no dramas for mine, they can bring in circus monkeys as well

 

[aussies1st]

What if there's a 7-2 offside field?..it then becomes a 7-2 onside field. That's not fair on the fielding side IMHO.

Bowler can pull up like he did last night or just bowl it down his new leg side.

 

[Twizzle]

What if there's a 7-2 offside field?..it then becomes a 7-2 onside field. That's not fair on the fielding side IMHO.

thats obviously the reason the batsman does it

on the down side its not his preferred batting stance but if he can get away with it, he is obviously very skilled and I have no objection to that sort of tactic in T/20 game only

 

[beads6]

I am not sure why Warner or any batsmen for that matter would even bother with it. Surely batting as normal would give you the best chance of making runs.

 

[Marshall_magic]

I am not sure why Warner or any batsmen for that matter would even bother with it. Surely batting as normal would give you the best chance of making runs.

It puts the bowler in 2 minds. Like with a soccer penalty, if the keeper dives before the penalty taker kicks it, and goes the right way, it makes the shot taker panic, and make a rushed change in his shot (which he may stuff up).

On the issue, I play a lot of baseball (although switch hitting is rare at the level I play), so I love seeing it. Then again, some people who do switch hit in at the level do it to distract the pitcher more so than to exploit fielding weaknesses (one bloke I've seen changes between left and right handed batting every pitch).

 

[Tom Shines]

It puts the bowler in 2 minds. Like with a soccer penalty, if the keeper dives before the penalty taker kicks it, and goes the right way, it makes the shot taker panic, and make a rushed change in his shot (which he may stuff up).

On the issue, I play a lot of baseball (although switch hitting is rare at the level I play), so I love seeing it. Then again, some people who do switch hit in at the level do it to distract the pitcher more so than to exploit fielding weaknesses (one bloke I've seen changes between left and right handed batting every pitch).

Yes, but in baseball you have to call time and inform the umpire if you are changing stance before the pitcher pitches. Or else you are called out for batting out of the box.

Totally different to changing as the ball is being bowled.

 

[Iafeta]

No. The game is already been fast-tracked the way of batsmen (power plays, better bats, ropes being brought in, tailor-made batting tracks), the bowler doesn't get the option of bowling with the opposite arm unless they inform the umpire and hence the batsman that they are doing it, so I don't see why the batsmen need another thing in their favour. Perhaps, perhaps, if they changed the lbw rule so that effectively there was no legside when it came to lbw rulings on the switch hit shot it maybe ok.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Yes, but in baseball you have to call time and inform the umpire if you are changing stance before the pitcher pitches. Or else you are called out for batting out of the box.

Totally different to changing as the ball is being bowled.

I meant the fact that a right hander hits a six left handed is impressive, like a right handed batter hitting a home run batting left handed.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

The answer is simple. Get bigger sightscreens everywhere, and make the option available to bowlers to run in and deliver it out of their less preferred hand. Also all laws regarding leg/offside (LBW/wides etc) are null and void once a stance is changed mid delivery, however if the batsmen takes guard as in his less preferred stance (provides the option for a field change) then its just play it in a conventional manner assuming he's a left handed (e.g.) batsmen.

 

[Hanscholo]

As far as i am concerned, you can do whatever you like after the ball is bowled. What i dont want to see is a batsman changing stances when a bowler is running in. The rules of cricket are based on leg/ off being a set feature. To change over in a run up would be firstly changing the way LBW is ruled on, secondly how wides are ruled on and surely a bowler should then be able to choose over or around the wicket in their run in as well.

Dave Warner obviously has a strong baseballing background, which is fine. Im not sure why he would bother to do what he did the other night other than showing off tbh, clearly he was dominating the bowling with ease. There was no need for what he did.

20/20 rules are going to have to change quite a lot over the next few years. Ive noticed that baulking from the bolwers is becoming very common place, that should be a no ball in 20/20 imo...We dont want to see a bowler have 4 dummy run ins per ball.

I still cant believe world cricket hasnt worked warner out yet. They continue to bowl short or just short of a length bowling to him. You bowl at his feet from ball one, until he is out. He is massively strong at playing balls he can get under...bowl a few at his feet and all of a sudden he goes nowhere.