Glenn Maxwell defends controversial, ‘unfair’ tactic after cricket storm

Ian Chappell’s comments on switch-hitting sent a shockwave through the cricket world, and now Australia’s main man has responded.

Glenn Maxwell is a freak.

Glenn Maxwell has defended batsmen using the “switch hit” following criticism of the tactic by former Australian captain Ian Chappell.

After Maxwell exploited India’s pace bowlers with the innovative shot during Australia’s one-day games at the SCG, Chappell voiced his frustration to nine.com.au.

“(Bowlers) have to tell the umpire how they’re going to bowl. And yet the batsman, he lines up as a right-hander … and before the ball’s been delivered, the batsman becomes a left-hander,” Chappell said this week.

“One of the main reasons why he’s becoming a left-hander is so he can take advantage of those field placings. I’d love the administrators who made those laws, I’d love them to explain to me how that’s fair.”

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Chappell wants the practice to be deemed “illegal” and encouraged India’s players to revolt against the practice by challenging the on-field umpire.

“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,’ and then I’m going to run in and bowl around,” Chappell said.

“Obviously the umpire’s going to complain, and I’m going to say, ‘Well, you stop him doing something I think is totally unfair, and I’ll stop doing something unfair’.

“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.”

Glenn Maxwell of Australia.

Maxwell adopted the tactic again during India’s 13-run win in the third ODI against the Aussies in Canberra on Wednesday, sending one switch hit 100m as he smacked 59 from 38 balls.

“It is within the laws of the game,” Maxwell said in the post-match press conference, when asked about Chappell’s comments.

“Batting has evolved in such a way, that it has got better and better over the years, which is why we see these massive scores are getting chased down and the scores are going up.

“I suppose it is up to the bowlers to try and combat that.

“The skills of bowlers have been tested everyday with bowlers having to come up with different change-ups, different ways to stop batters and the way they shut down one side of the ground.

“I suppose the way the batting is evolving, I think the bowling should try and evolve.”

Spin King Shane Warne sided with Chappell, arguing that although the shot was undeniably entertaining, it gave the batter an unfair advantage.

“As a bowler, we have to nominate what hand we’re bowling with, and what side of the wicket we’re bowling with,” Warne said during Fox Cricket’s coverage of Wednesday’s one-dayer.

“I’m setting a field to a right-hand batsman, so now when they switch-hit, I’m actually bowling to a left-hand batsman.

“I’m not sure I like it. It’s worth a discussion, worth a debate to work out what’s the right thing.

“Maybe the bowler can run up behind the umpire and bowl over or around.”

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Former Australian spin bowler Shane Warne.

But former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy delivered a rebuttal while speaking to 1170 SEN Breakfast on Wednesday.

“I think bowlers have got to be a little bit better, they’ve got to be more aware,” Healy claimed.

“Last minute changes for the bowlers aren’t that great at the moment, but they’ll get better at that.

“But it is tricky, it’s very tricky.

“Let the batters do it, not many are doing it well, but the one’s that do are incredible entertainers.”

Fox Cricket commentator and former Australian spin bowler Kerry O’Keeffe explained why he had no quarrels with the practice.

“I wouldn’t mind people trying to switch-hit me, because I reckon it’s a higher-risk shot,” O’Keeffe said. “It’s not against the Laws.

“Running in right-handed over the wicket and bowling around the wicket is illegal. It’s outside the Laws.

“Switch-hitting is inside the Laws, and it’s entertaining. I like it.”

— with Jai Bednall