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Feedback: One rule for them ...
Wisden CricInfo staff - June 27, 2002

We publish a selection of your feedback in response to Sambit Bal's recent column (click here). If you wish to add to the debate, please click here to send us your views It is ridiculous how people of the English media, such as Mr Berry and Mr Henderson are able to air their clearly biased views. The English fans are blinded and taken in by it, and seem to support it. Whilst phrases such as "Lord Snooty" are bandied about it is clear where Mr Henderson stands - but hardly as a commentator on cricket. Or how about "innocent until proven guilty" applying to Alec Stewart, but not Dalmiya. I remember Lord McLaurin of the ECB saying that people implicated in match-fixing from India and Pakistan should not be allowed to play, and England shouldn't play them. But this same man came out in support of Alec Stewart when he was implicated, giving him "the full backing of the ECB". Let's be honest here: the English board, backed by the English media is really wishing to whinge about the way in which their power and grip from the past (when they were "colonial powers") on the game is slipping to the subcontinent: India alone, I believe, provides 60 percent of world cricket's revenue. Ajay Prasad

Scyld Berry? Mean fellow, and I don't wonder that Sambit decided to put him in his place. Will Berry stay in line? I doubt it. Not as long as Wisden decides to give him a bit of air. I'm beginning to think that as long as he gets it, we won't see the last of this sort of slander. Well, what's to be done? Call in Jaggu Dalmiya, that's what! Rahul Goswami

Bravo, Sambit Bal for your piece on the "Great English Scribe" Mr. Berry. 'Cycled' Berry and 'Chross' Ryan must be drinking buddies who anguish together at the demise of the Anglo-Aussie dominance. Sitaram Reddi

Sambit Bal's vituperative assault on Scyld Berry is not entirely misplaced. The reason for him to suggest that India threw away the match against Zimbabwe in Kochi, after so many months, is simply to ignite a psychological battle with the Indians, who, as Sambit pointed out, had just arrived in England. Put them on the backfoot from the word go, and try and create strife within the team. A case in point is Sri Lanka's dismal peformance thus far in England. From the beginning of their tour, there have been rumblings in the press about disputes within the team. The English press, of course, knew all about it at the outset. Sanjay Kapoor

I certainly agree with Sambit Bal's comments. Certain elements of the British media, in particular, Mr. Berry seem to have an agenda against India (Mr. Henderson is another). It is a complete contrast when comparing comments regarding Australia, they always appear squeaky clean in Berry`s eyes irrespective of their sledging which has been taken to new heights. I sincerely hope India prove these individuals wrong this summer on the field. Naveen Ratti

Sambit Bal could not be more wrong on the match fixing allegations. Mohammed Azhurrudin was condemned by very strong evidence: there was a large amount of money unaccounted for, and the testimony of Hansie Cronje that he was introduced by Azhar to Gupte. On the matter of Dalimiya, I have yet to hear a single person anywhere outside India who regards the prescence of Dalmiya in any form of cricket administration to be a good thing, or that his reign as ICC chief was a good one. If Berry wishes to criticise Dalmiya, then good. Anyone who regards Dalmiya as good for cricket should not be involved with the game themselves. Charles Britten

It's surprising how the likes of Berry always are willing to apply the rule "Innocent until proven guilty" only to Alec Stewart and no-one else. A journalist should at least have some sense of balance. Sadly with Berry thats not the case. I read his article insinuating the behaviour of Indian Pagan umpires with amazement before England's cricket tour. Anyway to each its own and if the Wisden establishment wants to associate itself with the wild unsubstantiated antics of Berry, so be it. Saurabh Rajadhyax

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