MCC give 'switch-hit' all clear

Date released: 17 June 2008

Following a meeting at Lord's, MCC have given the 'switch-hitting' reverse sweep shot, as used by Kevin Pietersen, the all-clear in regard of the laws.

The meeting, to discuss a variety of issues regarding the Laws of Cricket, was held by MCC – the Guardian of the Laws - on Tuesday 17 June.

Those attending the meeting included: MCC Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw; MCC Head of Cricket, John Stephenson; and Chairman of MCC's Cricket Committee, Mike Griffith.

Statement on the 'switch-hit' stroke

Pietersen plays the debated shot at the Riverside 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.

Law 36.3 defines the off side of the striker’s wicket as being determined by the striker’s stance at the moment the bowler starts his 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.

Umpire Simon Taufel and Pietersen in a Test at Lord's It also offers bowlers a good chance of taking a wicket and therefore MCC believes that the shot is fair to both batsman and bowler.

Furthermore, MCC acknowledges that while bowlers must inform umpires and batsmen of their mode of delivery (Law 24), they do not provide a warning of the type of delivery that they will send down (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.