27 APRIL 2004, Page 35

Unfair to the Don

From Des Withal!

Sir: Frank Keating (Sport, 17 April) insults the greatest of all cricketers when he pontificates that Lara has 'out-Bradmanned Bradman' — and I am an Englishman, not Australian-born. All of Bradman's scores were accomplished on uncovered wickets and mostly against strong Test teams, not on today's manicured wickets which are prepared to suit batsmen and to encourage Tests to last the full five days. I have no argument with your claim that Lara is a great batsman, but what of his captaincy? He was captain of a team and batted on for his own personal glory at the expense of a possible and probable Test victory.

Des Withal!

Enna, NSW, Australia