Is ball tampering just not cricket?

WHICH poses the greater threat to the future and morality of cricket: ham-fisted Australians scratching the ball, in full view of millions of TV viewers (Mail); or bowlers aiming the ball — at 95mph — at the heads of batsmen, enthusiastically applauded by team-mates, spectators and commentators?

GORDON WILSON, Derby.

How good it is to see the cheats at cricket getting their marching orders. In football worldwide we witness players diving for penalties every week and when they succeed they get praise from their own team and supporters. This is blatant cheating and should be severely punished. It’s time the football associations took action similar to the cricketing organisations.

BILL BLACKWOOD, Falkirk. ROUGHING up one side of a cricket ball to make it bend in flight could benefit the sport. Balls with a rough and smooth side would increase the skill required to play the game at the top level.

JIM JACKSON, Glasgow.

WHY are people upset about dodgy cricketers? People cheat in sport, politics, business, school and in love.

PAUL CHARLES COOK, Huddersfield, W. Yorks.

THE Australian cricket cheats are ‘disappointed and remorseful for what has happened’. I bet they are – disappointed it was caught on camera and remorseful for being caught lying. As for crying during an interview… PR stunt anyone?

BRYAN WRIGHT, Greenock, Renfrewshire.

I REMEMBER when cricketers would groom their greased hair then frantically rub one side of the ball on their flannels before each delivery. To beat tampering, the International Cricket Council could change its rules so that after each delivery, the ball is inspected by the umpire.

DAVID SaPSED, aldwick, W. Sussex.

AUSTRALIA has promised to root out the cheats, but all it is doing is scratching the surface.

J. W. SCULLY, Bognor Regis, W. Sussex.