MCC backs Pietersen

Hurrah for the wise men of the MCC. The gentlemen in grey suits who safeguard and occasionally alter the Laws of Cricket met at Lord's today to discuss Kevin Pietersen's exotic shot-making and have decided that there is nothing infra dig about changing one's stance and reverse slogging a bowler for six.

This was their statement:

MCC believes that the 'switch-hit' stroke is exciting for the game of cricket. Indeed, the stroke conforms to the Laws of Cricket and will not be legislated against.

While noting the superb execution of the stroke by Kevin Pietersen for England during the recent One Day International against New Zealand, MCC had already acknowledged its existence in the 2000 Laws of Cricket - Law 36.3 - relating to the stance of a batsman. (It rules that the off side is determined by the batsman's stance at the beginning of the bowler's run-up)

MCC accepts that the use of a 'switch-hit' may have implications for other Laws of the game, principally Law 25 (Wide ball) and Law 36 (LBW), and will continue to research and discuss these implications.

MCC believes that the 'switch-hit' stroke is a difficult shot to execute and that it incurs a great deal of risk for the batsman. It also offers bowlers a good chance of taking a wicket and therefore MCC believes that the shot is fair to both batsman and bowlers.

Furthermore, MCC acknowledges that while bowlers must inform umpires and batsmen of their mode of delivery, they do not provide a warning of the type of delivery that they will bowl (for example, an off-cutter or a slower ball). It therefore concludes that the batsman should have the opportunity – should they wish – of executing the 'switch-hit' stroke.

Comments

[cris]

Maybe it wasn't mentioned two years ago because cricket wasn't in such turmoil then. Nowadays, with the IPL and Allen Stanford and all, any brash and flashy challenge to the old way of doing things touches a nerve.

[Rob]

Well done the MCC. The club is run exceptionally well by Keith Bradshaw and appears to be on the front foot on most topics.

If I was a Scott Styris and saw Pietersen shift around at the crease, I'd bowl a leg stump yorker. End of. I'd back myself 6/10 to get a wicket. Sorry Scott, you bowled tosh.

Well done KP. Ye who dares, wins.

[Suave]

Good for the old codgers, I say!

I just can't believe it's provoked this much commentary. Why was all this not brought up when he did it to Murali two years ago?