Sportsmanship was the victor in the Cricket World Cup final that gripped the nation
SIR – Congratulations to the England cricket team for their well-deserved victory in the World Cup, and to New Zealand for their wonderful demonstration of sportsmanship on a day when luck was not in their favour.
The way in which they dealt with the bitter disappointment was an example to everyone who truly believes in sport.
Chris Davies
Ottershaw, Surrey
SIR – In 1981 I listened to Ian Botham’s incredible Test on the radio. On Sunday I watched Ben Stokes’s incredible ODI on television.
What a wonderful game is cricket!
Roy Bailey
Great Shefford, Berkshire
SIR – Above all else, what a joy it was to watch a sporting event where there was no dissent, no cheating or play-acting, where apologies were immediately given to the opposition for inadvertent mishaps and there were genuine words of praise and congratulations from both captains at the end.
Both sides can be proud of the spirit in which the game was played. It did much to restore faith in cricket.
We can but hope for something similar in the Ashes series.
Peter Higgins West Wickham, Kent
SIR – New Zealand set an easily beatable target, England failed to achieve this after 50 overs. The match was a tie; the result should have been joint winners.
Ron Mickleburgh Killigarth, Cornwall
SIR – Am I the only one who considers 241 for 8 a better score than 241 all out?
Peter Varley Emmer Green, Berkshire
SIR – The “super over” was a most unseemly way to end an international cricket competition. Six balls each to slog: what can that possibly prove about the relative merits of the two sides? Honours were so even that a tie might, gracefully, have been accepted.
David Abell Portsmouth, Hampshire
SIR – C’est magnifique mais ce n’est pas le cricket.
Derek Wellman Lincoln
SIR – Sport and sportsmanship were the winners on Sunday.
Roger Federer in losing showed his ambassadorial status at Wimbledon and, as for the New Zealand cricket team, cruelly denied a victory they deserved at the home of cricket, watched by many millions worldwide, no praise can be too high. Their captain, Kane Williamson, showed great integrity and sportsmanship in rapidly confirming a six as poor Trent Boult touched the ropes in the last over.
A rather different New Zealand team may claim another trophy in Japan for their proud country in the autumn, but will they do so with half as much sportsmanship as their cricketers?
Andrew R L Penfold Sheet, Hampshire
SIR – Spare a thought for county cricket players and support staff around the country.
The cricket authorities scheduled eight four-day county games to be going on while the World Cup final was being played, thus depriving the majority of those dedicated professional players the opportunity of actually watching the game live.
John Marsh Fordingbridge, Hampshire
SIR – How refreshing to see cricket available on free-to-view television. My husband, a keen fan, had a wonderful day watching his team.
This must have inspired many young boys to play. Let’s make it more accessible to all.
Jacqueline Davies Faversham, Kent
SIR – After the excellent television coverage of Wimbledon fortnight, Sunday evening became a shambles. Having moved the women’s doubles to BBC Two it was suddenly cut off and we were watching Top Gear with no warning. Did someone press the wrong button?
The four ladies had already been messed about, waiting for hours on Saturday and then not playing. They were very hard done by.
Hilda Ball Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire
SIR – My grandson has just witnessed what I’m sure has been the greatest sporting match of my lifetime.
Would the ECB care to explain why they will deprive him of any such chance again by replacing this format with one ludicrously close to the Twenty20 format we already have?
Narrow concentration on shortterm commercial interest will kill this incomparable game.
Nigel Leek Mere, Wiltshire
SIR – If the ladies of the English team playing in the Netball World Cup in Liverpool this week reach the final, I wonder whether Sky will show it on Channel 4.
Moira Fenerty Liverpool