Kevin Pietersen landed himself in trouble with the umpires on Thursday for changing his stance twice while attempting the switch hit during the second Test against Sri Lanka.
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Umpires warned England batsman Kevin Pietersen twice for changing stance to attempt a switch hit during the second Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
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The flamboyant Pietersen was spoken to by Bruce Oxenford and Asad Rauf after bowler Tillakaratne Dilshan had to stop twice in his run-up as the batsman turned around in his stance.
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The laws of the game say that the switch hit -- a right-hander playing a shot with a left-hander's grip -- is legal but a batsman cannot change stance before the bowler has delivered the ball.
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Kevin Pietersen (right) speaks with the umpires as teammate Ian Bell (2nd right) looks on. Pic/AFP
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Match referee Javagal Srinath of India confirmed that Pietersen had been officially warned twice.
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A third offence by him or any other England batsman will result in five penalty runs being awarded to Sri Lanka, Srinath said.
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Pietersen was unbeaten on 106 at tea on the third day in Colombo as England, replying to Sri Lanka's first-innings score of 275, moved to 352-4.
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The South African-born batsman had hit 12 boundaries and four sixes in his 20th Test century.
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There was no immediate comment from the England camp on the incident.
