Cricket prayers

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 14

Cricket prayers

Sir,—That sport is New Zealand's religion seemed to me to be well illustrated this morning on Radio 3ZM when Murray Inglis called for a national day of prayer for our cricket team. Might I point out that Christianity is a way of life not a superstition. Murray Inglis

begged somebody in the link with Wellington and Auckland to have a Bible. What good does he think that will do? Do those people involved in the farce, and the many listeners who requested a replay of the “prayer", really believe that God is more likely to hear their prayers than those of the opposition? My prayer is that Bob Lowe will direct his energy to encouraging people to seek and find God, through Jesus, as a personal Saviour, rather than join in the nonChristian game of making fun and superstition out of true Christianity. — Yours, etc., VERA CHAPMAN. February 9, 1983.

World series cricket Sir,—The rugby administrators have seen fit to introduce neutral referees; is it not time the cricket administrators did the same? During the world series it has become patently obvious that the Australians have been advantaged by many questionable decisions. The Dyson non run-out against England, the Marsh “kick” against New Zealand immediately come to mind but there have been others which for some reason usually favour the Australians. No-one doubts that the task of the umpires is a difficult one and that mistakes will be made, but surely it would be more acceptable if the decisions were given by neutral umpires. To win a one-day cricket match is a difficult task. A team needs skill and a certain amount of luck. For us spectators it is becoming an endurance test to listen to oneeyed commentators for six hours and watch umpires giving decisions in their country’s favour. — Yours, etc., DIANA P. MORGAN. February 10, 1983.