As a Sri Lankan expatriate and an Australian citizen, I must congratulate Sanath Jayasuriya and his team for their spirited performance here in Australia. The inspiration of Sanath is worthy of emulation in all cricket playing countries.

We saw ‘How to win’, ‘How to lose’, and more than ever, how to break records. Australia and England can lick their wounds, although they may do well to emulate Sanath’s achievement.

In recent weeks we saw the boorishness of sections of Australian and ‘Barmy Army crowds’. These spectators always want - come what may - for their teams to win. I have no grouse with that. Yet they are woefully unable to accept defeat.

The racist slur from one member of the Australian team and the consistent sledging from partisan Australian crowds need no comment.

I am glad that the higher echelons of cricket have awoken to those who bring cricket into disrepute. May be they can learn a lesson or two from Sanath Jayasuriya. He and his team may have lost the match, but they gave cricket a lesson in true sportsmanship.
Noel Crusz,
Australia.