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Ian Chappell strongly against ‘switch-hitting’ tactics | Former Australia captain Ian Chappell strongly against switch-hit in cricket
Ian Chappell has opposed switch-hitting done by the Aussie batsman in the ongoing Australia-India ODI series. The former Australian captain condemned the “amazing skillful” tactics of players like Glenn Maxwell, calling it unfair.
“How can one side of the game, ie. the bowlers, they have to tell the umpire how they’re going to bowl. And yet the batsman, he lines up as a right-hander – I’m the fielding captain, I place the field for the right-hander – and before the ball’s been delivered, the batsman becomes a left-hander,” Chappell told nine.com.au.
Australia has won two games and secured their ODI win in the three-match series. Both the matches were a high scoring chase for India. Chappell asked the Indian team to revolt against this practice to the on-field umpire.
“I just can’t believe the players don’t arc-up about it. If I’m captain, I’m going to take the ball myself and I’m going to tell the umpire I’m bowling right-arm over [the wicket], and then I’m going to run in and bowl around. Obviously, the umpire‘s going to complain and I’m going to say, ’Well, you stop him (the batsman) doing something I think is totally unfair and I’ll stop doing something unfair’. If the administrators aren’t smart enough to change it, then my attitude always was, ‘Well, I’ll take the law into my own hands’”, he said.
In the recent past, Chappell has been very vocal about cricketing activities and usually rants about things that he doesn’t approve of. Earlier this year, Chappell suggested that the LBW laws be changed so LBWs can be given no matter where the ball pitches or hits the batsman. In this matter of concern, he also suggested a solution that could make the game fair for bowlers as well.
“It’s very simple … All you’ve got to say is that if the batsman changes the order of his hands or his feet [as the bowler runs in], then it’s an illegal shot. (But) if the batsman’s right-handed and wants to play switch-hit [in advance of the bowler running in], any bowler worth his salt will say, ‘Go for your life, mate, I’ll take my chances’. But when he completely becomes the opposite-handed batsman to what he faces up as, then it’s not fair. If he’s good enough to do it by excellent footwork or whatever other means he can devise, I don’t have a problem with it. But when it’s blatantly unfair, it annoys the hell out of me”, he added.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
