Saturday's Letters: Cricket scandal: I want my TV money back

When doing so, I think I reasonably expected Pakistan (and England and Australia) to give 100 per cent to each and every ball with a view to beating each other. It is quite clear to me, regardless of the outcome of the police inquiry into several Pakistan players' part in the above, that they have fallen well short of my expectations (Yorkshire Post, August 31).

I shall not only not pay for Test Match tickets to watch them in the future, but will be seeking reimbursement of my aforementioned outlay, through the courts if necessary.

They have brought shame on themselves but far worse have caused me and doubtless many thousands if not millions of like-minded cricket fans to question whether the game at the professional level is 24 carat or anything like it.

Don Bradman and others who made the game great, not so much by their achievements but by the genuineness of their efforts, must be turning in their graves.

From: Robert Sharp, West Park Drive West, Roundhay, Leeds.

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From: Iain Morris, Caroline Street, Saltaire, Bradford.

WITH regard to the article by Abdul Bary Malik (Yorkshire Post, August 31) "Who in Pakistan can we trust?", it is a sad fact that there is more corruption in the East than the West.

When my father was dredging for tin in Malaya, in the 1950s, he was offered a new Studebaker (an American car) if he sacked somebody; he did not do it.

An intrusion on Hague's privacy

From: David H Rhodes, Keble Park North, Bishopthorpe, York.

I DON'T set out to fight anybody's cause, but the attack and innuendo on William Hague sharing a room with another male bemuses me (Yorkshire Post, September 2).

Surely in life this is a normal occurrence? Think of boarding schools, the Armed Forces, sports teams on tours and probably the last World Cup football team. When ladies go to the powder room in pairs, does this imply that the dark forces of evil are working their spell?

May I suggest that until anything untoward occurs or is suspected, then any "investigation" is an intrusion on privacy and a smear on someone's character by implication.

From: Mrs Anne M Waggott, Old Coach Yard, Easingwold, York.

IS there no limit to the sad, sick searching for, and publishing of, salacious stories, irrespective of their veracity?

It is not only sad, it is absolutely disgusting, that an honourable man like Mr Hague has felt he had no option but to inform the public of totally personal information to which, we have have absolutely no right to have any knowledge.

Oh, and by the way, on a less serious note, my husband of 53 years has, for the past 20 years, shared a twin room while on golfing holidays, with one or other of his male colleagues.

Perhaps it is fortunate he is not a politician.

From: Maurice White, Burniston, Scarborough.

IN all the compassion being shown to William Hague in his problems with an internet blogger, are we not losing sight of a more serious concern, that of his being able to give a 30,000 per year Government job as a "special adviser" to a friend?

Mr Hague already has two "special advisers", so why does he need a third? At a time when this Lib Con Government is telling all and sundry how important it is to reduce costs and is making thousands of civil servants and public sector workers redundant, how come Mr Hague can suddenly find a job for his friend and put him on the public payroll?

Racing's crown

From: Keith Nunn, Burton Street, Farsley, Leeds.

ANY Yorkshireman worth his salt would agree with Rhys Coleman (Yorkshire Post, August 30) that the Knavesmire is the finest racecourse in the land. No particular county bias is needed when the likes of Lester Piggott and Kieren Fallon wax lyrical about its obvious charm.

If York is the racecourse king of England, then Yorkshire's eight other courses add extra sparkle to its jewelled crown. Racing enthusiasts will have their own particular favourites, but I would like to recommend Pontefract for a central position as a crown gem.

Over many years, I have always found a warm welcome at "Ponty", especially in the modest surroundings of the Silver Ring, rubbing shoulders with ex-miners, families enjoying a day out, grumpy old punters, everyone relishing that certain dour Yorkshire grit coupled with wholesome good fun in a beautiful parkland setting.

As far as transport infrastructure is concerned, the answer lies in the not too distant past, when Wallace Arnold, for example, offered coach travel to Catterick inter alia, and the ubiquitous car was not quite so dominant.

I can also recommend train travel to Thirsk. The station exit lies near the six-furlong pole. If you can survive the swarm of midges, the straight pavement promenade to the racecourse is a lovely summer aperitif before the main six or seven race-day courses are served.

Cut food prices

From: James Anthony Bulmer, Peel Street, Horbury, Wakefield.

WE hear and read that hundreds of tonnes of perfectly edible food is dumped every year and still large annual profits for supermarkets who are, obviously, the main purveyors of food.

Is this waste claimable against tax, after all it must be a financial loss?

If prices were to be reduced, would more food be purchased? And could the poorer and out of work people benefit by a drop in the price of the largest weekly expenditure – food?

How must these countries who are starving feel if they hear of this shocking waste of food, especially when the traders are still making millions.

Should the greedy think of the needy? Bring down prices and help stop the vices.

Support for bull breeder

From: John Rockliff, Beechtree Lane, Camblesforth, Selby.

I AM pleased that Ken Jackson and his daughter Kate, pedigree breeders and owners of Hallmark Boxster, have had some success in the High Court, thus obtaining at least a short reprieve for their splendid animal (Yorkshire Post, August 28).

From the very start of this sad affair many months ago, they have made it clear that their request was only for a further and final test, that they would pay for the same and accept the final result.

In these circumstances, it is difficult to understand the motives of Defra. There would be no charge to the taxpayer, indeed, should the test prove negative there would be a potential saving. The test would be under ministerial control and therefore would not and could not set a precedent for future ad hoc private testing.

Ken Jackson is highly regarded, not just within the beef cattle show and sale rings throughout the country, he has many other talents and many other friends.

Call to boycott US goods

From: D Smith, Sandhill Way, Harrogate.

THE blatant victimisation of BP by the American authorities, and the non-existent reply by the British Government, leaves one with a feeling of great indignation.

The spill of oil, whether it has been caused by terrorist action, industrial espionage or sheer lack of diligence, still behoves the cost to be borne by the shareholders and loss of revenue to the British Government (200m-plus in tax from dividends).

Therefore, I propose we respond with a boycott of American-based stores, cars and goods.

Trident subs 'vulnerable'

From: A Collier, Burlington Court, Gordon Road, Bridlington.

I READ the article by Dan Lewis (Yorkshire Post, August 19) in support of Trident.

He states that there is no defence against Trident. What about a nuclear submarine to carry them? Sonar detection has vastly improved which makes a submarine vulnerable to detection. What, if detected,

one is destroyed? What consequences would that incur, as opposed to an aircraft armed with nuclear arms being destroyed, possibly over the sea?

Refreshing moments

From: Mrs A Saville, Yedingham, Malton, York.

JUST when one despairs of the so-called Yorkshire nous; the perennial grey squirrel debate; vegetarian red squirrels that eat the young of small birds; tarring today's politicians with the same brush as their predecessors, then along comes Tom Richmond to save the day.

After reading all that ill-informed rubbish, how refreshing it is to settle down with Tom's column.

Happy ending for a good deed

From: Mr C Hodges, Sunny Grove, Sharp Street, Hull.

I AM writing to thank the Yorkshire Post and the person who found my bag on Oak Road park, Hull on August 8.

Firstly, to the person who found and then handed it in to lost property. Secondly, the Yorkshire Post, who ran a small article (August 16), which was read by a friend, who sent me a text – thank you all.