Readers’ letters
The Hundred? No thanks
Anyone who believes that obscure terminology is a barrier for new supporters of cricket should ask why other sports do not appear to have the same problem. I have grasped the meaning of an “iron” in golf, but still don’t know what “birdies” and “bogeys” are.
When a tennis commentator refers to a shot as being “down the line” I have to wonder which line he is referring to. A clear explanation of the “offside rule” in soccer would, I’m sure, defeat most fans of what to me is one of the most boring sports there is. If you want to enjoy a sport, learn its terminology and rules. As for “the Hundred” itself, count me out. The IPL and Twenty20 are bad enough. Another slogfest is pointless. Richard Holroyd, Cambridge
I think my love affair with cricket over the last 60-odd years may finally have been snuffed out by the ECB and their ludicrous renaming suggestions for this foolish experiment called the Hundred.
Colin Senneck, Hartley, Kent
The ECB has decided to dumb down the way the scoring in cricket is to be done, to pander to those who cannot be bothered to read rules. Maybe the Football
League should change how we score in football matches. I think Chelsea 3 nets, Spurs 2 nets sounds great.
R Allder, Bexhill-on-sea
As the ECB are determined to move “the Hundred” as far away from cricket as possible, can I suggest some other names that may catch on with the new fans they propose to attract. Perhaps the person who delivers the ball could be called a pitcher or a thrower or a chucker! I also believe the competition should have a more succinct title – baseball or rounders. Clive Hann, Farnham Common, Bucks
As the term “wickets” is to be renamed “outs”, does the “wicketkeeper” now become the “outkeeper”? To achieve a run-out, does the fielder now have to “break the outs”? I thought April Fools’ Day was at the start of the month.
Peter H York, Daventry, Northants
In attempting to make cricket “more accessible” the ECB seems to be creating a game which bears little resemblance to cricket. Maybe they should invent a new game for those who don’t like cricket, and leave the old game alone for those who do.
Mike Finnis, Hinchley Wood, Surrey
If the younger audience that the Hundred wants to attract will be mystified by the terms “wickets” and “batsmen”, good luck with the rest of it.
Huw Davies, Kingsland, Herefordshire
Amongst all the patronising dross associated with the forthcoming Hundred competition, I can’t wait for the dumbed down explanation of the DLS when it is used in rain-affected matches.
Simon J King, Bedford
Stop the feigners
Given that it appears so difficult to correctly identify delayed concussion at the point of impact, maybe we need to enforce mandatory concussion substitutes every time there is a head-impact injury. I’d extend that to any player going down clutching their head, a clear sign of a head injury (such as Son Heung-min last week). An added benefit would be an immediate reduction in players feigning serious head injury.
Chris Forth, Harrow
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