You need perfect pitch to play second fiddle
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday March 31, 2011
For Ponting from Spurgeon the 19th century preacher ("Ponting passes on the baton but stays to play second fiddle", March 30). "It takes more grace than I can tell to play the second fiddle well."Donald Howard ElderslieRicky Ponting must feel that he is the "fall guy" in the demise of Australian cricket.Cricket needs to start looking at itself from the very top down. Administration, the domestic season, the lack of fostering and developing younger players all seem to be part of the malaise. The administration is in denial.Milton Battaglini Carindale (Qld)Regarding the somewhat equivocal tributes for our recently retired cricket captain, I recall that Steve Waugh retired a hero, yet he presided over what was probably the ugliest Aussie team of all time, couldn't win in India, couldn't beat India here in his last season, and had a better collection of players than Ponting ever had (remember Ponting never captained a team with Waugh in it).I won't argue that Ponting was a great tactical captain, but it's a lot easier to swan around at cover point thinking of creative ways to annihilate a hapless Nasser Hussain-led English team, than go through what Ponting had to this summer.Thanks for the years of great service to the national team.Gareth Richards ThornleighRicky Ponting demonstrates that it is possible to overcome youthful indiscretions and rise to the challenge of mature leadership. While not quite the way he might have wished it, he has been able to make this declaration in his own time. We look forward to more entertaining innings.Philip Cooney Wentworth FallsThe first priority for the new cricket captain Michael Clarke is to change his current nickname. After a long tradition which includes Chappelli, Grumpy, Tugger, Tubby, Punter and even Gilly, Pup sounds positively lame.Anthony Inatey BathurstHow big was the swing against Ponting?David Brender WoollahraFresh blood, new ideas, out with the old, in with the new?This might work.Clarkey for our new NSW Labor leader and Robbo for the big one - captain of Australia.I think most would agree Clarkey could bring a lot to his position; not so sure about Robbo.Peter Bower NaremburnSo, for the only time since Federation, the holders of the two highest offices in the land are unmarried. Thus far, however, only one has red hair and only one has tatts.Alf James GreenacreShow us you careI would like Mr O'Farrell to please add to his very long list of things to do a bit of funding to help us aged carers find somewhere for our disabled adult children to live. We're worn out and exhausted, and would like to die in peace, knowing that our child is being well cared for. There is much more funding and facilities available for us in our old age, but what are we to do with our daughter?Glenn Fisher Frenchs ForestLivid about VividSydney seems to be one confused city. One day it's promoting action on climate change by turning the lights off for Earth Hour, next it's promoting a two-week light festival ("Vivid displays light up city's creative side", March 30).I would like to have read that we can enjoy this awesome festival that much more by knowing it would be powered by renewable energy.Then those quotes from Ignatius Jones - "metaphor for creativity", "a huge step forward" and "where art meets the real world" - would be more meaningful.Robyn Williams RobertsonBig price to payDeborah Mobberley (Letters, March 30), the rot set in to destroy Sydney's transport possibilities long before Bob Carr, as governments of various colours scrapped (rather than implemented) the Cumberland County Planning Scheme, and sold off the land that was part of satellite towns, green-belts and road/rail corridors. Short-term gain for - what?Roger Hallett Coffs HarbourGive war a chanceLeunig's sanctimony has reached new highs with his cartoon yesterday depicting a destroyed Libyan tank with bodies strewn about it. We should all be thanking the US and others for their help in preventing the mass murder of the people of eastern Libya.Gandhi is not beyond criticism. His current elevation to virtual sainthood should be challenged. His extremism led to a point where pointless surrender to murder was seen as a virtue. Like Leunig's cartoon the pacifist approach ignores the real world where sometimes using the big stick is the only option available.Jim Russell BalmainTwin enemiesClearly our society is failing when it cannot instil respect for all faiths ("Fear strikes as temple showered in bullets", March 30).Hindus should not have to install metal screens or security cameras to protect a place of worship.Such incidents show there are still some in Australia who cannot accept our increased cultural diversity or the emergence of ethnic religious communities. Freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion are vital rights for a civil society.Hindus have as much rightas anyone else to practise theirreligion.James Athanasou MaroubraDespicable nappiesWhat a wonderful day it was. Walking my dog along the beach. Then - a half buried disposable nappy poking its way up through the white sand. I almost stepped in it. Plastic bags for everyone I say.Neil Quinn VincentiaAnarchy in the UKMark Curran (Letters March 29) and Geoff Dunsford (Letters March 30) both present arguments for a carbon emissions levy and cite Britain as an example. Not a good idea.The trade union march this month in Britain, its high inflation and the fact that the British have priced themselves into economic doom is a good case for Australia to be more circumspect how we affect our inputs to production.This means not having a carbon tax and putting the resources into financing renewable energy and updating our coal-fired generators to gas.John Amor MosmanA super solutionAnthea Doe, I have a low tech but effective solution to the problem of twitty tweets disrupting the ABC's Q&A ("Twerps are giving me the twits", March 30) - a rectangle of cardboard propped up against the telly, just high enough to hide the tweets. These twitterers remind me of people gossiping and sniggering while you are trying to listen to an interesting lecture or watch a good film. OK, ABC you have proved you can do it, but please spare us.Brenda Mattick Rushcutters Bay
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