SPORTS LETTERS: Play interrupted
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Play interrupted
From Mr Timothy Bleach
Sir: The television commentary on the Friday of the Lord's Test match was substantially interrupted during the morning session by a variety of newscasters, interviewers and pundits speculating on the implications of Mr Hurd's impending retirement as Foreign Secretary.
Had the matter been one of genuine national emergency, the intrusion would have been both understandable and wholly necessary. As things stand, there is already a plethora of news and current affairs programmes.
Cricket, once a national institution like Mr Hurd, is the one sport in the country still enjoyed by a wide variety of ages, classes, and ethnic groups. The fact that the interruption came at a most exciting moment when our bowlers were engaged in confrontation against Carl Hooper and Brian Lara made the situation even more galling.
I suppose that the BBC's reasoning is that cricket, like most other vital public services, is now to be regarded as a privatised concern which no longer carries any weight either of national tradition or aesthetic value.
A final point: it is noteworthy to contrast the Antipodean courtesy with which Richie Benaud passes us across to the newsroom for its various bulletins, when he invariably names the newscasters, with the total lack of response from the smiling young persons who bring us news of the latest controversies.
Yours sincerely,
TIMOTHY BLEACH
London N19
23 June
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments