Pietersen's Left Handed Batting Illegal?

[Jono]

"I covered my eyes as soon as he turned his body around," Collingwood said. "I was quite surprised and I went 'Oh no' but he smashed it. In fact he smashed it twice. He did actually come up the wicket and say 'I was thinking about that in bed last night,' so at least we know the visualisation was there."

(on many accounts)

 

[SJS]

As it stands today, this is unfair to the bowlers, extremely so, but not illegal because there is nothing in the laws to prevent him. I think the laws need to be modified to to allow LBW's to balls pitching on either si9de of the stumps and in the limited overs game, not to declare the legside wide for close deliveries (as is done presently) to balls pitched on either of the two leg sides (except genuinely wide balls of course).

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Should be illegal.

 

[Jonty Lathwal]

i have not yet heard of any shot being "illegal"...

 

[Burgey]

It should be illegal, but not as illegal as some of his hair cuts.

 

[fredfertang]

The critics have a legitamate complaint but nothing will happen because, as the good Doctor pointed out more than a century ago, the crowds go to see KP bat and not to see Dan Vettori bowl

 

[cowboysfan]

If somebody can hit a shot like that than good for them but the "outside the leg side"rule should not apply for a LBW decision-only criteria being the ball should be hitting the stumps.

 

[NZTailender]

The critics have a legitamate complaint but nothing will happen because, as the good Doctor pointed out more than a century ago, the crowds go to see KP bat and not to see Dan Vettori bowl

I'd rather see Vettori bowl than Pietersen bat, itbt.

 

[Langeveldt]

It doesn't have a law yet, so we don't know if it is illegal.. Personally I think it's fine, but the bowler should be able to either change hands mid delivery (I've seen a couple of ambidextrous bowlers), or be able to bowl both sides of the wicket..

 

[fredfertang]

If the bowler can choose to change to over or round the wicket at will it will be necessary to have technology deal with front foot no-balls

 

[jammay123]

as long as the bats men doesnt have to declare if he uses right or left hand then its not illegal but whether that changes or not is up to the govening bodies

 

[Jakester1288]

So it's legal atm? As Rob said, I might try that taking guard left handed if its legal.

 

[Flem274*]

The critics have a legitamate complaint but nothing will happen because, as the good Doctor pointed out more than a century ago, the crowds go to see KP bat and not to see Dan Vettori bowl

Pretty sure in NZ the crowds want Vettori to own KP.

 

[Richard]

DWTA, we should encourage as many people as possible to come here and then help them learn about the game, IMO

Well, yeah, but I mean... having 1,000+ posts and not knowing how the lbw law works?!

 

[silentstriker]

What if:

I am a right handed batsman, but I take guard left handed to force two or less slips, and then simply switch over to the right hand as the bowler is running in?

 

[GIMH]

He's enthusiastic...he knows now

 

[Goughy]

So we might be losing test cricket altogether to some mad baseball style game, but all the ICC are worried about is a loon playing the odd funky shot? Fair play to Pietersen to be honest, heck of a shot.. Just hope when he tries it against South Africa he loses either his middle stump or a tooth..

Yeah, I couldnt agree more.

What is the point getting all hot under the collar over a shot that his high risk, few can play and even those that do only play it infrequently?

A non-issue for me.

 

[silentstriker]

Yeah, I couldnt agree more.

What is the point getting all hot under the collar over a shot that his high risk, few can play and even those that do only play it infrequently?

A non-issue for me.

So let me ask you this: if I am a right handed batsman and take a left hand guard, they won't be able to put as many slips 'leg' side. Then as the bowler is running in, I switch and play right handed.

Should that be allowed?

 

[Jono]

What?!

I seriously suggest you read the lbw law before posting on cricket forums TBH.

Ease up Richard.

I agree that the rule needs changing, but I also agree that as a bowler, I wouldn't mind the batsman changing grips. Reckon whilst it paid off for Pietersen against NZ, a lot of the time the batsman are going to screw themselves over.

But as I said, the rule needs to change, for fielding reasons most importantly.

 

[Goughy]

So let me ask you this: if I am a right handed batsman and take a left hand guard, they won't be able to put as many slips 'leg' side. Then as the bowler is running in, I switch and play right handed.

Should that be allowed?

KP is doing it as the ball is bowled.

He is set and then makes the change as the ball is delivered and he begins the process of playing the shot.

Its close to all one action and quite fluid. Nothing like changing stance once (or more) during the bowlers run up.

KP is set and then plays a shot. Just so happens its a pretty complicated shot that involves him moving his feet. His stance is clearly defined at the time of delivery.