Yea cricket, common sense nah

In the Sydney Morning Herald, Greg Baum wonders why there is so much indignation about Denesh Ramdin and the infamous message to Viv Richards.

Strictly, it is truer to say that Ramdin's mini-banner was only a little bit precedented. After his only other Test century, three years ago, he held aloft a note bearing the names of three former West Indies cricketers who had helped him on his journey. There was no reprimand then. So the note this time was not an issue, just its contents.

Can cricket, indeed all of sport, have become so proper and precious that it must stomp so hard on a man who, relieved of a millstone, gives vent to his feelings in this heartfelt, but harmless manner?