It’s the shot that’s got the cricket world talking and Michael Hussey is one of those who wants to see more of the controversial switch hit.
The shot, which features a batsman changing his stance from one hand to another, has divided opinion among cricket fans and players around the world over its fairness.
England’s Kevin Pietersen found himself the centre of controversy during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo earlier this week when he was twice warned for changing his stance before the ball had been bowled.
But Hussey, who says he’s not going to contemplate adding the “ridiculously difficult” shot to his repertoire, believes the stroke shouldn’t be outlawed.
“I think if you’re good enough to pull it off then I think you should be able to play it,” Hussey told reporters in Barbados.
“I personally don’t have a problem with it and maybe it might cause some changes to the fields and tactics as well.
“The bowler, he can change his way, if he’s bowling defensively around the wicket to Pietersen which I believe he was doing and he sees him switch hit why can’t he bowl somewhere else? It’s putting some pressure back on the bowler, it’s making him think and now it’s time for the bowler to combat that in their different ways.”
Aside from Pietersen, the other player in world cricket who has almost made the switch hit a signature shot is Australia’s David Warner.
But while the opener could do some damage with the unorthodox shot during the three-Test series in the Caribbean, West Indies vice-captain Kirk Edwards believes if Warner is good enough to get away with it then well played to him.
“If a guy’s special enough to switch hit and you can’t get him out, happy days,” Edwards said.
“I think it’s a pretty amazing shot, it’s not something that you just wake up and play.”