It's a fantastically multi-racial game

no cricketer will ever concede that it is anything but a fantastically multi-racial game on the field, which has nothing to do with politics. in fact, cricketers actually are a perfect society as far as racialism goes. cricket did begin here, but that was a geographical thing. i toured india, pakistan and south africa quite a lot - its the professional pinnacle of your career to be representing your country - and no one ever felt racialism.in fact, to believe that mike denness has a racialist bone in his body is ludicrous to anyone who has known him or toured with him. denness was my vice-captain when i took the (england) tour out to india in 1972-73. i was invalided out and he took over. it seems to me that if india is determined to break the icc rules, they can fracture the icc game. after all, its the umpire's decision; we all obey rules and regulations don't we? perhaps it has to do with cultures, and because india's large, enthusiastic cricket following perceives it as a slight against the country. i'm welsh and they respond very emotionally to things here. but i would hope there would be acceptance when, as happens frequently, england incur the wrath of the referee: michael atherton did at lord's when he was caught putting dirt on the ball.