India vs Australia : “It’s up to the bowlers to evolve” – Glenn Maxwell defends switch-hits as Harsha Bhogle joins opposite camp

India vs Australia : “It’s up to the bowlers to evolve” – Glenn Maxwell defends switch-hits as Harsha Bhogle joins opposite camp
Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell

Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is renowned for his extraordinary hitting ability and breathtaking switch hits. The swashbuckling allrounder wreaked havoc against India with his switch hits in the ODI series. And even went on to hit a 100m six with it in Canberra. But this amazing display of skill has sparked a controversy in the cricketing fraternity. Many greats of the game called for reconsideration of the legality of the shot.

Australia legend Ian Chappell even went on to call for a ban on the shot. The former Australia skipper admitted that the switch hit is skill full. But insisted that it gave the batter an unfair advantage on the bowlers. The switch hit was introduced by England batsman Kevin Pieterson and have been used widely in the field of cricket. The Aussie duo of Maxwell and David Warner are well known for their heroics with the extraordinary shot.

“It is very skilful, some of it’s amazingly skilful – but it’s not fair,” Chappell told Wide World of Sports.

Australia spin maestro Shane Warne joined Chappell as he feels that the switch hit should be debated about once again as the game has become too cruel for the bowlers now. Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle joined the Aussie duo as he questioned if it will be okay for a bowler to suddenly change his bowling arm in the run-up.

Also read : “I’m not sure I like it” – Shane Warne speaks out on Glenn Maxwell’s switch-hits

It is within the laws

Glenn Maxwell’s switch hit

Following all the ruckus around the shot, Maxwell came forth to declare the shot is well “within the laws of the game”. The allrounder feels that its part of the evolution of the game. And the bowlers should step up their skills to combat it. Maxwell deemed the switch hit an equivalent to the variations bowlers use to deceive the batsman.

“It’s within the Laws, batting has evolved in such a way that it’s just got better and better over the years which is why we see these massive scores getting chased down,” ESPN Cricinfo quoted him. “Suppose it’s up to the bowlers to try and combat that. The skills of bowlers are being put to test every day with bowlers having to come up with different change-ups, ways to stop batters. And the way they shut down one side of the ground.“

“The way batting is evolving, I think bowling has to try and evolve at the same stage. We see guys coming up with knuckleballs and wide-yorker fields, the tactics of one-day cricket have definitely evolved over the last little bit as well. I just see it as a different part of the evolution of the game.“

As the storm builds up around the innovative shot one must not forget that shot was cleared by the lawmakers in 2012 following a similar controversy.

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