Sir, Proceedings on and off the field at the Lord’s Test (Report, August 30) have left a nasty taste in many mouths. Instead of remembering the achievements of Trott and Broad we will instead recall this match — and perhaps other events in this series — for other reasons.
Among those with every right to feel aggrieved are the fourth-day paying customers. The play came to a predictable and premature pre-lunch finish. The high prices of the tickets for this summer’s Tests have already attracted adverse comment, and the poor attendances reflect customer resistance. For purchasers of fourth-day tickets not to receive compensation for their short ration of play, especially in the context of off-field allegations, is quite unreasonable, whatever the purchase terms of the ticket.
The ECB should realise that, once bitten, the customer will be twice, and perhaps permanently, shy. Fourth-day tickets will simply not be saleable in the future, especially against outclassed opponents. The ECB should offer ex-gratia compensation to Sunday’s ticket holders. To make no such gesture and to rely simply on the terms of the ticket sale is likely to have long-term implications. Disaffected customers will simply walk away.
William Nicolle
Lindfield, West Sussex
Sir, Unfortunately, betting scams are prevalent in many sports, including cricket, and it is high time that the ICC, its world governing body, asserted its authority and stamped out corruption from the game — before its integrity is ruined for ever.
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Professor Ian Blackshaw International Sports Law Centre The Hague Sir, Peccaverunt.
Malcolm L. Merritt
Altrincham, Cheshire