Britain's army of village cricketers will be left with their heads spinning after it was revealed all their careers they may have been holding their bats wrong.

Overturning generations of teaching, scientists found batters who wield their willow the "wrong" way may in fact have a stunning advantage.

Youngsters are traditionally taught from school age to place their dominant hand at the bottom of the handle with their weaker hand at the top.

But the new study found batters who hold their bats the other way round have a far better chance of reaching first class and international standard.

It suggests right-handers generate more power if they bat in the stance usually taught to left-handers, and vice versa for left-handed players.

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The study points to superstars like the big-hitting West Indian Chris Gayle and England all-rounder Ben Stokes claiming one reason they are so successful is because they bat the “wrong way”.

It found professionals are seven times more likely to adopt a reversed stance than the rest of the population.

The findings published in Sports Medicine could turn cricket coaching on its head - and could have far-reaching consequences for schoolboy cricket.