[Wavytone]

I frankly don’t see why so many are so obsessed with this topic.

The day any sport prostitutes itself for serious money - either directly (professional salaries, match fees or whatever the latest euphemism) or indirectly (sponsorships, free houses, cars, gifts, travel etc) is the day cheating sets in in a big way and ruins it for anyone who thinks they can compete fairly.

Has been that way for erm... centuries, if you consider horse racing or athletics.

Just take a look at what happened to thugby, sailing, all the Olympic sports - swimming, weightlifting and athletics particularly...

No surprise that cricket has been tainted with the same.

The only thing mildly surprising is that they thought they could get away with it with 30 tv camera with powerful zooms recording every move in closeup.

The one thing i find disgusting is that our governments pour millions per year in support of making these individuals seriously rich, through hosting things like the Commonweath Games and other premier events and providing lavish facilities at taxpayer expense, such as the Australian Institute of Sport and so-on - yet can’t find the money to provide basic sport facilities for ordinary kids at a local level.

The only reason I can find is that it keeps a lot of voters preoccupied with something utterly fatuous, and diverts attention away from what politicians are actually doing (or not).

And you would be right in suspecting I loathe cricket, and thugby.