July 07, 2008	Monday	Rajab 3, 1429

SILVERSTONE (England), July 6: Sachin Tendulkar believes Kevin Pietersen’s controversial switch-hitting technique should not be banned but said cricket’s laws needed clarifying.

England batsmen Pietersen sparked a debate last month when, before the bowler reached his delivery stride, he switched to a left-hander’s grip and stance and twice hit New Zealand’s Scott Styris for six in a One-day International.

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), custodians of the game’s laws, quickly convened to discuss the tactic and announced that the innovation conformed to the existing rules.

However, Tendulkar, a batsman who has always combined a classic technique with wristy innovation, feels the approach needs more thought.

“I think they will have to look at it far more closely than has been done; it changes the laws,” he told Reuters on Sunday.

“It’s about lbw decisions, how are you going to decide which is off stump and which is leg?

“My opinion is that when a right-handed batsman takes his guard it doesn’t matter which shot he plays, he’s a right hander and the field can be set accordingly.

“The moment a right-handed batsman becomes a left hander and changes his grip, changes his stance, then if you’ve got three slips you have three leg slips -- and it’s a no ball.

“It’s far more complicated than it appears, the best option is probably to stick to if he’s a right hander, it doesn’t matter where the ball pitches, the off stump will always be off stump.”

“These are the natural changes and innovations of the game,” he said.

“Close to 10 years ago, when (former Zimbabwe batsman) Andy Flower started playing reverse sweep I said that in the next five years this would become a common shot. Now many batsmen play it and in time more innovations will come from batsmen and bowlers.”

“The game is changing, it’s becoming more and more attacking and players are prepared to take more risks,” he said.—Reuters