KP Cracker Puzzle

Doubts have recently been raised about whether mercurial middle order batsman Kevin Pietersen should retain his place in the England Test team middle order. A string of low scoring performances, particularly this Winter in tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and a tendency to get out to mundane left handed spinners had seemingly put KP's head on the block. It has even been suggested that KP lost his mojo with the England Captaincy. In the first innings fo the Second Test against Sri Lanka KP responded in splendid fashion putting the osts to the sword and smashing 151 glorious runs.  Averaging almost a run a ball, this was Pietersen at his majestic best. Sri Lanka's bowlers seemed to have no answer.
Such was KP's confidence and feeling of superiority that he felt able to bring out his almost unique cricketing virtuosity. KP unleashed his famous, but recently slightly shy 'switch hit'. He switched from right hander to left hander as the bowler entered his delivery stride and accordingly decimated the Sri Lankan field placings. Never one to leave it at that, Pietersen pushed the boundaries and changed his grip on occasion too early at leas tin the view of the umpires Rauf and Oxenford. The unfortunate Dilshan was the bowler, or in fact the not bowler as several times he stopped before delivering the ball. Eventually the umpire gave Pietersen a formal warning for 'timewasting', pursuant to Rule 42.9. The rule makes no reference to switch hitting. The umpires had been presented witha conundrum, largely due to Dilshan's pulling out of the delivery. The game risked reaching a stalemate. Any further transgression would have resulted in 5 runs being awarded to England's opponents. KP was unperturbed, at one stage hitting Dilshan for 14 runs in 3 balls.

The switch hit requires considerable power and ambidextrous coordination. It has caused some controversy in cricketing circles, but was ruled to be legal by the MCC in 2010. They welcomed 'innovation' in the game. The shot raises issues about the LBW law, a batsman cannot ordinarily be out LBW if the ball pitches outside the line of the leg stump. It offers a conundrum to captains trying to set their field. But, as Pietersen himself argues, it is a shot executed with considerable risk giving opportunities for the bowler.
The MCC wants to retain the competitive balance between bat and ball.
The switch hit is fabulous entertainment. It is also extremely exciting. There is no greater sight in cricket than a confident KP in full flow. Cricket needs innovators and star quality. Pietersen demonstrated today that he has lost none of his.