Black Caps back switching KP

Kiwis planning to improvise in limited overs action

Last updated: 17th June 2008

Black Caps back switching KP

Flynn: Looking to improvise

The way cricket is going, improvisation is going to be the key and if you're capable of doing it, it's going to make it hard for the opposition to set fields to you and bowl to you

Daniel Flynn
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New Zealander Daniel Flynn feels it would be unfair to punish Kevin Pietersen for having the audacity to try and hit left-handed.

The England right-hander stunned the crowd, and the tourists, on Sunday with two remarkable shots in the opening match of the NatWest Series.

Turning his grip, as well as his entire body around, Pietersen managed to sweep medium-pacer Scott Styris for two massive sixes in his innings of 110.

His amazing actions have prompted the International Cricket Council to ask the MCC to discuss the matter during a meeting at Lord's to determine their legality.

However Flynn, a left-hander himself, feels such shots should not be outlawed, insisting that Pietersen's ability to play them is a sign of his immense talent.

Good enough

"If you're good enough to play it I think you should be allowed to go for it," said Flynn.

"I don't see why he should be restricted in playing it so fair play to him. I've tried hitting right-handed shots myself but I can't hit them as well as that.

"I'm left-handed in nearly everything I do - golf, cricket everything except kicking a ball - so I can appreciate how good a shot that was.

"You have to give him credit because it was a great shot and he's obviously worked on it and it came off for him.

"On another day it could go straight up in the air but he managed to get it right in the middle on both occasions."

Improvisation

Pietersen's improvised hitting has also got the Black Caps working hard on what they can do to upset the opposition bowlers in the rest of the five-match series.

"The way cricket is going, improvisation is going to be the key and if you're capable of doing it, it's going to make it hard for the opposition to set fields to you and bowl to you," Flynn added.

"I think all our guys are working on it. I think it's one of those things you have to really work on at practice and once you've built your confidence up enough you can bring it into the game.

"I'm not sure the guys are quite up to it just yet, but I'm sure some of them will get there."