CRICKET COMMENT
SPOT-FIXING can no longer be considered a potential threat to the county game following the landmark case of Mervyn Westfield, but while the integrity of the sport has undoubtedly been tarnished, I’m sure this will prove to be an isolated instance of wrongdoing.
The temptation to indulge in the murky world of illegal gambling has always been there for county cricketers due to the relatively low profile of the game and the short careers of players, who earn considerably less than their international counterparts.
That said it’s my experience and belief that domestic cricket remains a game played by honest and decent people who, as was true in the Westfield case, are prepared to police the game from within.
The authorities cannot afford to rely on the goodwill of players, however, in their attempts to ensure the image of the sport isn’t tainted any further, and judging by their latest measures the England and Wales Cricket Board are switched on to the very real threat of spot-fixing.