Feel free to Switch Hit!

The Switch hit has come about mainly through the batting of England Captain Kevin Pietersen. It has been one of the main points of discussion throughout the English summer. The shot was famously played by KP against New Zealand earlier in the summer (Scott Styris was bowling) and proved very effective. Since then the shot has been deemed unfair and even a cheat by certain critics and names within the cricketing world.

The shot requires great courage as well as great strength; not everyone could switch to their weaker hand and smack the ball for six. For this reason i believe the shot to be totally fair and a welcome addition to the game of cricket. I don't understand the critics who claim that it is unfair for KP, among others, to play this shot; it's a massive risk and any bowler should be able to adjust and see the shot coming, as with a batsmen charging down the wicket. If the shot were to be widely played then perhaps it should be dealt with but only a handful of batsmen have tried, such as Mal Loye for Lancashire, and only KP has really mastered it - even he has only played it on a few occasions.

Let the man play the shot, quit the complaining and let bowlers learn to deal with it as they have for other 'new' shots such as the reverse sweep or even the charge. I for one would welcome a batsmen who wants to play a switch hit if i were the bowler; what a risk to take, and if you miss you become the laughing stock of the match and the community.

This shot will undoubtedly evolve as it is more widely played and as KP plays it more and more, which i hope he does (i'd love to see it against India!). I then hope to see the switch hit reverse sweep - this would totally confuse bowlers and would be a true stroke of genius, i'm just surprised KP hasn't played it yet or may not have even concidered it. Maybe i should get in contact with him!

Critics are welcome to comment but i am FOR this awesome shot. It's funny the critics are often Kiwi's or non-English, as they are for KP in general - jealousy; everyone wants KP in their side (as well as someone able to switch hit) and they won't admit it.

No 5-0 Whitewash for England!

Not great news but we'll take the 4-0 victory that we were able to achieve. Yesterday England were only able to bowl three overs of the 5th and final ODI of the English Summer. England therefore take the series victory but remain below South Africa in the ICC rankings. If they had won 5-0 they would have over-taken the South Africans.

South Africa made 6 for 1 before the heavens opened once more; unfortunately they stayed open and play didn't re-start. Matt Prior took a second magnificent catch off Stuart Broad (who has bowled beautifully throughout the series) to go with his one handed dive in the second ODI. Sadly England are not now second in the world as mentioned and they remain below South Africa - it makes little sense as we did just take them to the cleaners in this series.

Kevin Pietersen has now had five matches in charge, five victories; four ODIs and one test match. His captaincy has looked great, a different style to the relaxed/laid back Michael Vaughan, a fresh new approach to captaincy that looks set for the future. I know full well that he will make mistakes and hard times will come, especially in India later this year, but he has started as well as anyone could hope for and has not let anyone down; he treats the players well, he knows how to get them to perform, his mind is constant cricket and he's even good at attracting players back to the big scene. Steve Harmison has come back with a bang under KP and rumours say that Simon Jones (Ashes 05 hero) is the next target despite his present recovery phase following injury.

England did great, KP did great and long may it continue. Tonight i drink to England and the fine job they have done. Others, Aussies in particular, may disagree with my view on KP but let me say this; what team in the world would not pick Kevin Pietersen as their number 3/4 batsmen (the answer is no one is stupid enough to not have him in their team, he's WORLD CLASS).

Also in the news; Surrey will not benefit from the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar for the remainder for the season due to Visa problems. Surrey have been appauling and this attempt at some form of a recovery has failed before it even started, not that it would necessarily have been succesful with Shoaib's record.

Once again, well done England! (5-0 would have been nice but oh well!)

England One Day Triumph

Having lost the four match Test series to South Africa 2-1 England have regained some pride and taken victory in the five match ODI series winning the first three matches. After a relatively close first match England took South Africa apart in the second winning by ten wickets, then in the third showing another great performance - Flintoff getting his second fifty in as many matches, Bell also reaching the 70's and Patel taking a well earned five wickets; the first English spinner to do so since Ashley Giles back in 2001.

Matt Prior continued to do well but as is common with him he got out having got a start. It was disappointing to see KP go for only five but no one is perfect, after his great innings in the first ODI he can be forgiven of course! For the third game in a row an all round good team effort; i feel slightly sorry for Luke Wright at the moment, a great player who is being under used in both batting and bowling departments in my opinion.

Well done England, i look forward to the remaining two matches, the first of which is tomorrow at Lord's.