Sports Letters: Bowling balls

Sir: I was somewhat bemused by the views of Tom Saul and Mat Coward (Letters, 27 January) concerning the recent furore over Muralitharan's bowling action. Mr Coward's comments on the "British attitude" to sport could certainly not be applied to David Lloyd, whose petulant and spiteful attack after Murali had bedazzled England's batsmen last summer smacked more than a little of sour grapes. Can I also detect a sense of smug superiority from the British media over recent events Down Under ?

OK, so Australia may well have the best cricket team in the world and they can beat England without breaking sweat but their players are dishonest and the officials are racist bullies. It seems the "British attitude" to being substandard these days is to seek refuge in self-righteousness.

JOSEPH S PIERCY

Brighton, E Sussex