From ROY FULLER
Following my letter to New Scientist (Letters, 2 June 1983) on the transmission
of bacteria within a cricket team by the current habit of transferring saliva
and sweat to the ball in a vain attempt to affect the shine and hence the
swing, I was interested to observe the epidemiology of the ‘virus’ which
is currently running through the English team and the lack of any attempt
to minimise its spread.
I refer, of course, to the indisposition of first Ian Botham and then
Phillip De Freitas in the last test at the Oval. Both these players appeared
on the field shortly after being unfit and I suspect they were still carrying
the ‘virus’ which had made them ill. I can only conclude that the England
management do not read New Scientist.
Roy Fuller Reading, Berks
