Time longer than string

By LEONARD ST HILL
| Mon, June 18, 2012 - 12:00 AM

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Long life and memory have disadvantages when what goes around comes around not quite the same as it was last time.

Who kicked down the stumps in a Test Match in New Zealand, showing dissent at the umpire’s decision? How much of his match fee was he fined?

Is Saul now among the BBC prophets lecturing on discipline and restraint?

Who charged into the broadcast booth in the West Indies (Antigua), threatening to throttle a commentator who made disparaging remarks about the player? What was the consequence of that behaviour?

With a career ahead and not behind him, Ramdin might yet arrive at the distinction of a sports writer and commentator to be taunted or terrorized for having made comments deemed likely to affect injuriously the future prospects of a young player . . . by “bringing it into disrepute”.

Cricket is not the same with all the money spread in its publicity and arranging its results with much less efficiency than World Cup football in determination of the championship and its duration. It has become a game of chance with money looking for opportunities and jobs on which to be spent. Glorious uncertainties looking to be fixed.

The next time West Indies are invited to play winter cricket in wet England as match practice for The Ashes, they should consider a refusal to participate in bringing the game into disrepute. How does number seven qualify to challenge number one in any competition?