Ian Chappell suggested that shots like switch-hits, which gives an unfair advantage to batsmen should be banned. Glenn Maxwell, the all-rounder of Australia, played the shot to perfection during the recently concluded ODI series against India and scored a lot of runs.
Ian Chappell: Switch Hits Obviously Hands Advantage To Batsmen
In case of switch hit, the bowler’s field placings are made redundant and obviously hands an advantage to the batsman. Players like Australians Glenn Maxwell and David Warner have used the switch-hit shot effectively in T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League and international cricket.
Ian Chappell, like many other former players who have spoken against the switch-hit, has said that it is unfair that the bowler has to tell the umpire beforehand that he is going to bowl right or left arm over or around, but the batsmen is allowed to switch his stance and grip in the middle of the delivery without umpire or bowler’s permission.
“In the case of the switch hit, the batsman has one prime objective in mind: to make the bowler’s field placings redundant. Considering the bowler – in consultation with his captain – places his field taking into account the batsman’s style, how can it then be fair that the batsman becomes the opposite type of player with the bowler having no recourse to a change of field?” said Ian Chappell
“This obviously hands a huge advantage to a highly skilled switch-hitter,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo.
Ian Chappell has given another alternative suggesting on-field umpires to call it a dead ball every time a batsman attempt to play switch-hit. The players will obviously stop playing the outrageous shot in due course if umpires call it a dead ball.
Ian Chappell Disagrees Simon Taufel’s View That On Field Umpires Will Be Burdened
Former umpire Simon Taufel said it would be a huge burden for on-field umpires to check the same and adjudge whether they switch hands or feet every time.
“The respected former international umpire Simon Taufel suggested the already heavily burdened on-field officials would find it difficult to adjudicate on any switch of the hands or feet. With all due respect to a man who has done the job very effectively, I disagree, ” said Ian Chappell.
“The square-leg umpire is already paying close attention to the batsman’s feet in case there is a stumping, so he’ll notice any change of order. If a batsman changes the order of his feet, then the square-leg umpire ought to simply declare the ball dead and no runs result,” Ian Chappell further wrote.
However, Ian Chappell disagrees with the former official as he feels the square-leg umpire is anyways having a close look at the batsman’s feet to judge a stumping appeal if incurred so. Therefore he can always pick batsman’s foot movement while playing a switch-hit and call it a dead ball if the need arises and if a rule is made accordingly.