Anthony Roberts, Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex
Cricket umpiring has always been difficult, and is harder now with endless television replays. Listening to the experts explaining the lbw rule using a notional rectangle superimposed on the pitch, it occurred to me that the device could be used in practice by dyeing that area a different colour. It would give umpires a clear reference as to whether the ball pitched inside or outside the line of the stumps.
K J Wood, Exeter
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Why not give batsmen a right to appeal to the third umpire if they consider the field umpire’s decision is wrong? The number of appeals could be limited to three per innings, and thereafter could be subjected to a 25-run deduction from the batting side’s total if the appeal were not upheld, with the third umpire having discretion to waive this if replays proved inconclusive.
Ian Southgate, Bristol
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England’s improvement under Michael Vaughan’s captaincy has coincided with the emergence of some talented cricketers, but I get the impression that he possesses that wonderful ability to motivate players by just being himself.
Trevor Hamley, Ashford, Kent
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How many times does Lance Armstrong have to defend himself against drug allegations, and why does David Walsh feel the need to keep digging? Is it because the Tour de France is about to begin, and by bringing out a book questioning the favourite, he may get good sales?
Martin Clayton, Holmfirth
I was shocked to find The Sunday Times used to promote a book co-written by David Walsh, one of your journalists, condemning Lance Armstrong. As someone who has gone through the same chemotherapy as Armstrong, the thought of taking drugs that could cause more damage is abhorrent. Why not print something positive about him and his work involving testicular cancer?
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Colin Millsop, Les Lecques, France
Before the first Test between England and New Zealand, Stephen Jones said the All Blacks were in for a mauling. Perhaps he should just write about the weather.
Rodney Smith, Broadoak, Dorset
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Students of southern hemisphere rugby have long been irritated by Stephen Jones’s assertion that Super 12 produces lightweight forwards who are inferior to their European counterparts at the set-piece, breakdown and tackle. After the mauling his pack took from the ‘powder- puff’ All Black eight in Dunedin, I suspect Sir Clive Woodward may beg to differ.
Tim Webster, Woking
Stephen Jones gave Carlos Spencer, the architect of New Zealand’s victory, seven points, but his opposite number, Charlie Hodgson, eight. Presumably when he goes to Australia and sees that other talentless fly-half from Down Under, Stephen Larkham, he will give him five.
Barry Lankester, Solihull
The fact that David Beckham chose to take a vital penalty against Fabien Barthez, a keeper with whom he must have practised thousands of spot kicks during their time together at Manchester United, was yet another example of his self-aggrandisement. As captain, he should have nominated somebody else to take the kick.
Mike Russell, Worthing