Cricket rules apply to all

THE EDITOR: The ICC certainly has it within its right to make enquiries, scientific and otherwise into questionable physical, or ethical actions of world class cricketers. But when I saw the TV footage last Wednesday of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan going through his paces at the Australian university, with all the wires connected to him, and TV cameras placed at every possible angle, I felt outraged. Commentators praise all types of improvised shots made by batsmen, once they have the sense to defend their wickets, and to score runs from them.

Why is it that when this fantastic bowler, who is a joy to see in action, comes up with his own authentic type of bowling, to help make him a ‘killer’ bowler, who can and will take wickets, this has to be reported by the Australians? We here in the West Indies, may not have, or know all the latest technology as regards cricket, but we know a great bowler when we see one. Ask Brian Lara about Muralitharan and vice-versa. Definitely those two must have a healthy respect for each other deservedly so. The time is now, for the WICB, and all top class cricketers, particularly batsmen like Sobers, Richards and Lara to add their voices to support  Muralitharan.

Not forgetting some of our great bowlers who no doubt will have a lot to say on what is or is not allowed. The rules of cricket cannot and should not sway the game in the batsman’s favour. After all, batsmen get runners when they are injured, and leg-byes. What extra motivation is there for the bowlers? Let’s send the world a clear message, and those rude Australians in particular that “We not ’fraid de doosra! We smaller nations, must not allow those with more economic or political clout to determine the rules of this game of cricket which we all love. Ricky Ponting especially. Who had to apologise to the cricket world for “sledging” ?

JOANNE WILLIAMS-SCHMIDHAMMER
Maracas Valley, St Joseph