The Switch Hit and Reverse Sweep Explained: Cricket's Most Controversial Batting Shots
What the switch hit and reverse sweep are — Kevin Pietersen's 2008 invention of the switch hit vs Murali, the Laws governing switching hands, why the reverse sweep was controversial in the 1987 World Cup (Mike Gatting's dismissal), and how modern batsmen use both shots.
The reverse sweep and switch hit are two batting shots that involve the batsman fundamentally changing their stance or hand position to hit in the opposite direction to the conventional shot — playing a ball aimed at the off side to the leg side, or vice versa. Both shots are legal under the Laws of Cricket but have generated significant controversy: the reverse sweep because it exposes the stumps to LBW in a different way than conventional shots; the switch hit because the batsman changes which hand is at the top of the grip mid-delivery, effectively changing from right-handed to left-handed, which creates fielding restriction ambiguities.
The Reverse Sweep: Mike Gatting's Dismissal
The reverse sweep is played by a right-handed batsman reversing their body position — crouching and hitting the ball from the off side to fine leg or square leg with a reversed bat position. The shot became widely associated with the 1987 ODI World Cup Final: England's Mike Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off Allan Border's medium pace in the final, hit the ball to wicketkeeper Greg Dyer, and was caught behind. England needed 18 from 4 overs at the time (a chase they should have been able to complete); Gatting's dismissal triggered a collapse and Australia won. Gatting's reverse sweep is one of cricket's most discussed shot selections — the question of whether the risk justified the reward in a World Cup Final has been debated ever since.
The Switch Hit: Kevin Pietersen's 2008 Innovation
The switch hit — changing the grip mid-delivery so the top and bottom hand swap, converting from right-handed to left-handed — was popularised by Kevin Pietersen against Muttiah Muralitharan in the 2008 Test series. Pietersen changed from right-handed to left-handed during the bowler's delivery stride, then swept Murali's off-spin to the right-handed batsman's off side (where no fielder was positioned, because the field was set for a right-handed batsman). The MCC reviewed the legality and ruled it legal — the batsman can change their stance during the delivery as long as the change does not constitute unfair play. The controversy: when a batsman switches hand, which side of the wicket is the 'off side' for LBW? The Laws have since clarified that the batsman's position at the moment of delivery determines LBW analysis.
Modern Use of Unorthodox Shots
The switch hit and reverse sweep are now standard parts of top batsmen's repertoire in T20 cricket — Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler, AB de Villiers, and David Warner all used reverse sweeps and variations in T20 cricket. The shots serve two strategic purposes: (1) They target gaps in the field that are set for conventional right-handed batting; (2) They disrupt the bowler's line and length — a bowler cannot bowl the same line to both a right-handed and left-handed version of the same batsman. The psychological effect on bowlers (who must instantly recalibrate their delivery target mid-run-up when they notice the grip switch) is considered as important as the fielding disruption.
Frequently asked questions
Is the switch hit legal in cricket?
Yes — the MCC ruled the switch hit legal after Kevin Pietersen used it vs Muttiah Muralitharan in 2008. The batsman can change from right-handed to left-handed during the delivery stride. LBW analysis uses the batsman's position at the moment of delivery to determine which side is 'off side.' The shot is controversial strategically (fielding captains cannot set a field for both orientations simultaneously) but is not against the Laws.
What was Mike Gatting's famous reverse sweep in the 1987 World Cup Final?
England's captain Mike Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off Allan Border (medium pace) in the 1987 World Cup Final in Calcutta. He edged to wicketkeeper Greg Dyer and was caught. England were well-placed in the chase (needing 18 from 4 overs) when Gatting was dismissed; the wicket triggered a collapse and Australia won their first World Cup. Gatting's shot selection — attempting a high-risk reverse sweep in a World Cup Final when a conventional shot was viable — became one of cricket's most-discussed captaincy and batting decisions.
What is the difference between a reverse sweep and a switch hit?
Reverse sweep: the batsman (right-handed) changes their body position — crouching and sweeping with the bat reversed — to hit the ball to their right side (fine leg/square leg for a right-handed batsman). The hands remain in the same grip; only the body position changes. Switch hit: the batsman changes their grip during the delivery, swapping which hand is at the top — effectively converting from right-handed to left-handed mid-delivery and hitting the ball to what was previously the off side.