If we were to come up with a word to describe Kevin Pietersen, the switch hit would be the first thing that came to mind. The player who pioneered the shot and tormented the bowlers by hitting an outrageous shot to weaken the opposition’s confidence.
It is relatively rare, although certain players still successfully employ it. The switch hit entails adjusting the bat handle position, among other things. Glenn Maxwell and David Warner are two examples of regulars that use the shot. Kevin Pietersen was the first to use it successfully in 2008. That caused heated controversy, but the International Cricket Council (ICC) ruled in 2012 that the shot was legal.
Playing predetermined and modern shots exploits the vacancy in various parts of the field. When a bowler bowls to a particular field, he expects to outsmart the batter normally, but his opponent is also mindful of ways to counteract it.
Artistic shotmaking is the game’s buzzword, and the switch hit is the prime example. As the name implies, it flips the script as the grip changes. After the ball is delivered, a batsman alters his grip. As a result, a right-hander becomes a left-hander and vice versa. This frustrates the bowler and encourages the batter to innovate because he lacks a precise field.
The switch hit is a ‘planned’ shot primarily used against spin bowlers. This means that the switch hit is not tailored to any specific type of delivery. Yet, if one’s going to play the switch hit, he’d prefer to get a ball that’s a decent length and on the line of the stumps. Ideally, a bit fuller.
The origination of the shot
According to Wikipedia, the first switch hit in a Test match happened in the fourth Test between Australia and England in Manchester in 1921. Australian captain Warwick Armstrong was bowling wide outside the leg stump to halt the scoring. Percy Fender swapped sides on the bat handle and drove the ball towards the cover point to take advantage of the lack of fielders on the offside. The switch hit was declared illegal by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1924, and the regulations were amended to state that if a batter attempted to play such a stroke, he would be ruled out for ‘obstructing the field.’ We are watching amazing shots without fear of repercussions, thanks to the idea of limited-overs cricket. Even though Pietersen’s effective implementation of the shot made it prominent, it is thought that Jonty Rhodes hit a switch-hit six off Darren Lehmann in a one-day international versus Australia in 2002.
The MCC believes the stroke is thrilling for such spectators and referenced Rule 36.3, which stipulates that the off side of the striker’s wicket is determined by his stance when the bowler commences his run-up. If a hitter is struck on his pads, but the ball is pitched outside his leg, he will not be given out, which holds true even if he swaps sides and changes his stance and gripping.
After passing some stringent tests to remain viable and ethical, it is now entirely legal to execute that shot.
Switch hit: Step by Step
Step 1: To remain in a balanced stance
Body balance is one of the most important aspects of batting. Body equilibrium is everything and is prevalent in every sport. A batter in a balanced stance needs a comfortable base that is neither too broad nor too narrow. Hold the bat at the outer edge of the bat while keeping focused and maintaining proper head position.
Step 2: Switching sides and grip
The second step is critical to successfully playing the switch hit. You must rapidly move your stance to the opposite side as the bowler prepares to release the ball. Hence, a right-handed batsman should transform his foot position to pose like a left-handed batsman and vice versa. Your bat grip should also shift. What was originally the top hand should now be the bottom hand, with the bottom hand clutching the top of the bat. The objective is to switch stances swiftly so that you remain centred when the bowler’s arm delivers the ball.
Step 3: Executing the switch hit
After swapping stances, you should be motionless and prepared to receive the ball again. If the ball is situated on a good length and there is a chance to play it, shift your front foot forward, drop your rear leg, and unleash a sweep stroke or a slog sweep, aiming between mid-wicket and backward point.
Most expert batters will execute this stroke relying on the fielding placements afforded. Spin bowlers frequently load the on-side with catchers and deliver in such a manner that batsmen find it exceedingly hard to knock the ball through the considerably less guarded side. The switch hit enables a batter to bypass the on-side fielders and smash the ball onto the off-side, where there are just a few fielders. This makes the shot extremely successful because it provides a fantastic run-scoring option and compels the bowler and fielding captain to reconsider their strategy.
Although this shot is one of the most effective yet unorthodox, its implementation has divided opinions. Cricketers like Ravichandran Ashwin and Scott Styriss believe it should be outright prohibited. From a bowler’s standpoint, it’s fair because the game has entirely evolved into a hitter-friendly game, with pitches, rules, and grounds favouring the batter, and there’s very nothing a bowler can do. It may appear to some that changing a batter’s positioning and stance while confronting a delivery after the outfield has been set up for his initial stance is partially unfair. It may appear illegal, but it is perfectly legal for a hitter to perform a switch hit.
We sympathize with them, but at the end of the day, cricket has evolved into a batter-friendly game with little to no assistance for bowlers.