The switch-hit, once banned, would be "impossible" to officiate for umpires, says former Australian umpire Simon Taufel.

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Taufel, 49, said that there are too many factors for umpires to determine what constitutes a switch hit and what doesn't.

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"The umpire has an enormous number of decisions -- front foot, back foot, protected area, seeing where a ball is hit -- it's impossible to have an official then watch for the changing of the grip or stance. It's an impossible ask for a standing umpire to make that determination," Taufel was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

The shot, which involves a batsman effective changing his stance (right-hander to left-hander or vice-versa) just before the ball is delivered by a bowler. The shot has been in focus due to Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell's usage of it during the first T20I against India.

"We can't make a law that we can't apply," said Taufel, who was part of the ICC Elite Panel umpire before retiring in 2012.

"The game of cricket is not a science, it's an art. We're not perfect. When we say that we want to ban that type of shot how does the umpire officiate that? It's impossible."

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The likes of former Australia captain Ian Chappell and spin great Shane Warne have said that the switch was unfair on the bowler.
 

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