| Had Kevin Pietersen been caught in the deep when | | | | innocent aplomb, for those who believe the shots |
| playing the first 'wrong handed switch shot', the | | | | were unfair and possibly illegal; he says "stupid" and |
| other day, those same people who condemned the | | | | reminds them that innovation should be applauded. |
| shot would be the first to call for his international | | | | The shots certainly had the Durham crowd applauding |
| head, on the grounds of poor shot selection and | | | | and few could have come away from that game |
| batting irresponsibility. It is doubtful however that | | | | without a smile on their face and something to talk |
| they would be condemning the shot as illegal, as | | | | about at work the following day. Even Scott Styris, |
| often the legality of a failed innovation is generally | | | | the New Zealand bowler so badly savaged by the |
| ignored - that is often the way for those with | | | | two shots, was unable to keep a straight face, his |
| negative instincts. The innovative shot however, was | | | | smile of admiration after watching the second six |
| not caught in the deep, instead it sailed over the | | | | disappear into the afternoon sky said it all. |
| head of the lone fielder on the boundary, over the | | | | When the decision on the fairness or legality of the |
| ropes and has now landed it seems, into the hands | | | | shots is finally made, it could of course be too late. |
| of the cricket lawmakers and it appears that at the | | | | Huge changes in the cricketing world are imminent |
| moment they have not dropped it. | | | | and the commercial interests and the cash incentives |
| Of course Pietersen could have applied through the | | | | they carry will far outweigh traditional cricketing |
| cricketing chain of command for permission to play | | | | culture. Innovation demonstrated in the midst of |
| such a shot in advance. Had he have done so, they | | | | these changes, such as the two controversial |
| would probably still be in the middle of a second | | | | headline making Pietersen sixes, could easily put him |
| adjournment in the decision making progress. The | | | | on top of the cricketing superstar wanted list - if of |
| controversial shot, that was followed by a second | | | | course he is not there already. It is 'music to the |
| identical stroke, with the same result a short while | | | | ears' of those who want to monopolise and change |
| later, was played with such complete spontaneity, | | | | the game so completely. Their thinking will be that |
| with outrageous flair and match winning devastation | | | | shot making sells tickets and that will always be the |
| has had a profound effect both on and off the pitch. | | | | only consideration. |
| It has, it appears, forced the lawmakers to hurry to | | | | Pietersen and the two wrong handed sixes could |
| their boardrooms for some umms and arrrs, while | | | | have a much bigger effect on the game then is he |
| outside the cricketing media publicly debate the issue | | | | realised when making them. There is also online |
| and whip up a frenzy of opinion all at a time when | | | | betting interest from the leading bookmakers |
| the traditional values of the game are under the | | | | regarding how many runs he will score in the next |
| commercial microscope. | | | | cricket match using this shot. |
| Pietersen meanwhile defends his actions with | | | | |