Pietersen plays army cricket - right, left, right, left....
The increasing importance of limited overs cricket has produced new and innovative methods of gaining an advantage over the opposition. In a 20-20 game against Pakistan in 2005, Australia's Brad Haddin was the beneficiary of a 'free hit' after Shoaib Akhtar overstepped. Instead of swinging lustily from a normal batting position, the quick thinking Haddin ran behind his own stumps thus allowing himself more time to hit a boundary off the express pace of Shoaib. The ball eventually hit the stumps and went for leg byes but the idea was pure genius.
Bowlers, under increasing pressure from batsmen with bigger bats as well as bigger biceps, have developed a range of deliveries designed to counter this threat and balls bowled with split fingers, out of the back of the hand or with devastating reverse-swing are much more common place than they once were.
Then there's Kevin Pietersen. Without doubt, he is the leading innovative batsman in world cricket at present, as well as being one of the most talented and most powerful. In form, he is a daunting prospect to bowl at, and that's when he's batting right handed. Now, with his 'switch hit' slog, Pietersen is pushing the boundaries of batting genius to a previously undiscovered level. Reverse sweeps have been a part of cricket for decades now with the most infamous attempt at the shot being Mike Gatting's when facing the occasional teakers of Alan Border in the 1987 World Cup Final. Gatting's injudicious stroke ended up in a simple top-edged catch to wicket keeper Greg Dyer and England lost the match by 7 runs.
The not so subtle difference with the old reverse sweep and the new Pietersen version is that the traditional reverse shot was played with the batsman staying in his original stance position whilst cleverly swapping his hands so instead of the top of the handle facing the bowler, the bottom of the bat would. Skilful batsmen could then deftly use the pace of the ball to manoeuvre it behind the wicket.
The Pietersen variety is a whole different ball game. His reverse hit involves him changing from a right handers position to a left hander as the bowler gathers to release the ball. This opens up vast areas of the field where previously right handers could not conceive of hitting boundaries let alone sixes and makes it virtually impossible for a captain to set a field to. Instead of clever deflections for 2, the switch hit style allows batsmen with sufficient skill and power to hit the ball for 6. Pietersen has both of those characteristics in abundance and so is able to hit a medium pacer like Scott Styris over what would be long off for 6 by changing his stance from right to left handed.
This amazing stroke has caused all manner of debate in the cricketing world which can only be good for the game. Today (June 18th 2008) MCC have announced that after convening a special meeting to discuss the switch hit, they are happy for the stroke and the manner of its execution to continue. This is surely the right decision. Spectators the world over will pay their money to see such extravagant strokeplay and with ever increasing competition for cricket, anything that keeps the game in the public eye has to be a bonus. To my memory, Pietersen has attempted the switch hit 5 times in international cricket and on 4 occasions the ball has sailed out of the ground for 6 including once against Muttiah Muralitharan in a test match - a world first.
Is it unfair? Some might think so and perhaps such people have a point. I would add two observations to this. Firstly, go to your local nets, ask someone to throw a tennis ball at you underarm at a pace that suits you and then try to switch hit the ball for the equivalent of a 6. After 100 go's, give up and ask your partner to try. 20 minutes will have elapsed before you both realise it's virtually impossible to play the shot without being a batting genius - such as Pietersen.
Secondly, pop down to your local junior practice session and see how the youngsters have been enthralled with Pietersen's brilliance. As a coach, it puts a smile on your face when the 12 year olds can play a stroke that you have no idea how to demonstrate never mind play in a match. This is the current legacy of KP's impact on English cricket and it's helping to enthuse children the world over with a love of cricket.
Wello
