Australia’s swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s innovative yet controversial shot in the third and final ODI against India has sparked immense debate over the switch-hit among the cricket fraternity and now Australian spin legend Shane Warne has also opined on the same.
Maxwell arguably played the shot of the summer on December 2 (Wednesday) in the final ODI, reverse-sweeping Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav over point for six – the tactic was found an unfair practice by many including former Australia captain Ian Chappell.
Warne said on Fox Cricket: “As a bowler, we have to nominate what hand we’re bowling with, and what side of the wicket we’re bowling with. I’m setting a field to a right-hand batsman, so now when they switch-hit, I’m actually bowling to a left-hand batsman.”
He further added, “I’m not sure I like it. It’s worth a discussion, worth a debate to work out what’s the right thing. Maybe the bowler can run up behind the umpire and bowl over or around.”
The right-hander managed to change his stance to a left-handed one while the ball was in flight, backing himself with the wind to hit a 100-meter switch-hit six some 20 rows back into the stands at Manuka Oval
However, the shot requires enormous skill to execute correctly, as the batsmen need to change their stance and grip, essentially switching from right to left-handed (or vice-versa) to play the shot and Maxwell, who is one of the best exponents of the reverse sweep and switch hit, delivered it beautifully.
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Well, Maxwell was questioned by many for the shot having played it repeatedly in the recently-concluded ODI series – both in Sydney and Canberra against India with many raising issues of fairness, though, the all-rounder backed his genuine switch-hit by saying “it's within the laws of the game”.
Recently, Chappell said the practice is unfair to the bowling side and Warne has echoed the latter’s sentiments on switch-hitting, saying the shot undeniably entertains the crowd but at the same time, it gives the batsman an unfair advantage and suggested to the lawmakers to review the tactic.
Chappell had said: “(Bowlers) have to tell the umpire how they’re going to bowl. And yet the batsman, he lines up as a right-hander and before the ball’s been delivered, the batsman becomes a left-hander. One of the main reasons why he’s becoming a left-hander is so he can take advantage of those field placings. I’d love the administrators who made those laws, I’d love them to explain to me how that’s fair.”
However, former Australian cricketer Ian Healy, former umpire Simon Taufel and former Test spinner Kerry O'Keeffe all have backed the shot saying it needs an extraordinary skill which few cricketers in the world have mastered, suggesting bowlers to adapt to the evolution of white-ball cricket.
