Sports letter: Primary problem

Sir: I am afraid Mr Pringle has got it all wrong ("Wisden and MacLaurin open attack on English game," 3 April). Cricket is not popular in England because it is not played in primary schools, where women teachers and women governors are hostile to it.

We took cricket into my son's primary school and in two years got together a good cricket XI but, more important, a lot of younger KWIK cricketers at the school were keen to get into the team when their age permitted. The enthusiasm is there, despite the fact that cricket takes a long time to learn and it is a tragedy that the wonderful game of cricket doesn't push itself into our primary schools.

My experience proves it works and I do hope Lord MacLaurin copies my lead, but it will cost, of course. The more players that come through our schools, the higher the standards and the greater the competition.

RODNEY J SMITH

Croydon