Spoiled brats
THE privileged middle-class letter writers claiming indignation for the behaviour of the Australian cricket team is hysterical hyperbole. It is just an elite upper-class sport set aside for millionaires. It is no longer the game of the working class. There are far more important issues than spoiled brats playing cricket, out there in the suburbs.
It is sickening to witness the plight of homelessness being pushed to the background when it is the single most important controversy facing an inept, unsympathetic Liberal government. Politicians, and those administering Housing Tasmania should be forced to endure a week of the struggles of the homeless. The community will pay a very high price if this government continues to ignore this unprecedented politically made or ignored misery.
Bending the rules
DESPITE all the hoo-ha of the last week I still hold our cricketers in higher esteem than our politicians, bankers and big buildings types who frequently bend the rules in the cause of self-interest and never apologise for their actions.
Taking it seriously
AMID the loud and self-righteous braying of South African cricket fans, it is interesting to look at the recent record of ICC charges. The last three ball-tampering incidents in world test cricket all involved South African players. South African captain Faf du Plessis has been found guilty twice (2013 and 2016) and Vernon Philander found guilty in 2014. On all three occasions the players escaped with a fine and no further sanctions were imposed by the A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website.
Subtle differences
FUNNY game this cricket, isn’t it? Every fieldsman who handles the ball between deliveries openly polishes the shiny side vigorously on his clothing, even using spittle to help. Yet dare to scratch or scrape the other side, no matter how surreptitiously, calls for a punishment little short of a capital one or at least lifelong condemnation. Shouldn’t any player with traces of red dye on his clothing be equally culpable?
Arduous recovery ahead
THE genuine remorse from Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft is the start of a long and arduous recovery of the sport. Any amount of remorseful tears, sorrys, etc. will mostly fall on deaf ears and do little to repair the damage done to the sport. Fans, stars, officials, dignitaries and sponsors are in deep shock and many are pulling the plug on the sport. The sombre words “Australia is a cricket cheating country” reverberate in South Africa and across every continent. Australians and the public want an honest game of cricket. Integrity and transparency of all players and officials are of paramount importance.
Keep Tasmania special
I COULDN’T agree more with Julie McConaghy (Letters, March 31). Not only do many visitors to Tasmania come to see something really special, something they can’t see anywhere else, many locals don’t want to live in the “Suva of the South” either. Even Luke Martin of the Tourism Industry Council seems to be having some doubts about the wisdom of ever-increasing cruise ship numbers.
Gun law questions
FARMERS and shooters argue for common sense in changing gun laws, but to allow silencers for guns, where is the common sense in that? It beggars belief this could be allowed. The gun lobby, that is what they are as they influenced government policy, must be held in check with some of their wish list. Not even many of the farmers have asked for these changes so who really benefits?