Beating the batsmen

SIR – The ECB is considering scrapping lbw (Sport, July 24). How absurd! It would mean the bowler had beaten the batsman but his side got no reward, despite the ball, in an umpire’s opinion, being about to hit the stumps.

Far better to scrap leg-byes. (At present the bowler has beaten the batsman, but the batting side can get a reward in runs.) The ball should be deemed dead once the batsman is hit.

Provided the umpire ensures the fielding side acts with reasonable speed, there should be no problem. Roger Collins

Burgess Hill, West Sussex