Cricket: Gooch sends letter of complaint to Hunte

GRAHAM GOOCH has written a letter of complaint to the International Cricket Council's stand-in referee, Conrad Hunte.

Hunte, who fined the Pakistan bowler, Aqib Javed, pounds 250 and severely reprimanded the Pakistan manager, Intikhab Alam, during the third Test at Old Trafford, also said in his adjudication: 'Javed Miandad (the captain) has been firmly encouraged to ensure that his players maintain the spirit of the game. Mr Hunte also addressed this point with England's captain, Graham Gooch.'

It was thought that Gooch, who was inside the pavilion when the incidents took place, took exception to being named, and that his letter reflected this.

However, this was denied last night by Ted Dexter, the chairman of the England committee, who said: 'The letter was handed personally to Conrad Hunte prior - and I repeat prior - to the ruling on disciplinary matters. That letter drew the attention of the match referee to a single cricketing incident and nothing else.'