What happens when all these people have been sent home? Burn the embassies down? Imprison tourists in Siberia? It seems to me that there's only one message that someone like Putin, obsessed as he is with his self-image, will understand, and that's the message of boycott. The FIFA World Cup is about to get under way in Russia and all the reports suggest that Putin is set to use it in much the same way as Hitler used the Berlin Olympics in 1936 – to showcase his odious regime, a regime that feels that it can enter other countries in pursuit of his enemies, thereafter to poison them. He's probably even calculated that Western governments whose national teams are heading to Russia (including ours) are extremely unlikely to carry out such a boycott for fear of domestic backlash. Around a third of the countries that have qualified for the tournament have already expelled or have indicated they will expel Russian diplomats, so, if a boycott could be orchestrated, it would have real effect. Ian Jackson, Freshwater

David Wroe has inadvertently omitted the most egregious offences from his objective exposé of Russian naughtiness (i.e. "bad behaviour"). "Strategic scholars" have not only concluded that Russia is interfering in our elections, and undermining our democracy, but they are attacking our very psyche. "Experts" have concluded that some of our cricketers have been affected by a military-grade mind-control agent, of a type developed in Russia by a devious chemist, Boris Johnsonovich, recently migrated to the UK from Russia. This chemical was used more recently to influence countless millions of unsuspecting US citizens to vote for well-known Russian double agent, Donald Trump. Authorities now believe this dastardly chemical was delivered via microscopic and undetectable drones, operated out of Assad's bedroom in Syria. The chemical caused innocent cricketers to Tampa with cricket balls, using a military-grade sandpaper, also developed from the Bunnings facility in Nikkihaleygrad, Siberia. The effect has been nationwide depression. Furthermore, "one respected Russia observer" has informed us that Putin recently ordered the assassination of the tooth fairy, sending the Free World's children into utter despair.



Gary Hare, Narrabeen While the world is expressing outrage at the attempted assassination of the Russian spy/defector/traitor, Skripal and his daughter, spare a thought for those that a double agent may have killed directly or indirectly. A dirty business, espionage, and Skripal must have been very familiar with the nerve agent Norichok, otherwise he would have entered his home instead of heading out to the park bench. You reap what you sow.

Bill Gakas, Millers Point If the Australian government knew that the Russian diplomats were spies, why weren't they expelled earlier?



Riley Brown, Bondi Beach ​ Fight to save Moore Park from developers is far from over The stadiums fiasco was always going to lean in favour of Allianz in Moore Park. It was predetermined when the government built the magnificent Tibby Cotter bridge to nowhere and the light rail to the eastern suburbs was not routed where the public transport need is, through Waterloo and Zetland then on to the University of NSW, but through Moore Park and to the racecourse.

And now we have a glimpse of a business case which tells us it's not even feasible, with the cost greater than the value. It seems the endless fight to save Moore Park from becoming a parking lot and more development encroachment is far from over. Labor's plan to disempower the Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust is well overdue ("Labor to overhaul SCG Trust after new stadium", March 31-April 1). Mark Tietjen, Redfern I write as a professional structural engineer, with many years' experience in refurbishment of buildings and rail infrastructure. Successful upgrades have been undertaken at numerous rail stations, ranging from additional lifts and footbridges in the suburbs, to complex rebuilds at Wynyard, Town Hall and currently Central Station – all in busy, operational environments with limited 'track possessions'. Appropriate 'performance-based' assessments and risk-mitigation strategies are applied so they meet current code requirements. Using this approach, both stadiums could be refurbished, quadrant by quadrant – with comparatively minimal impact on/from their limited usage – at a fraction of the cost of a demolition/rebuild: the latter is not sustainable environmentally, financially or socially. Furthermore, a new rectangular stadium could be built on vacant land adjacent to the old 'Brickpits', north-west of the Olympic Park station. The existing ANZ stadium can then host the World Track and Field Championships in future, or even the Olympics again.

So, Sydney would soon have three world-class stadiums for about half the current budget that creates two stadiums – with 0.5 to 1 billion dollars left over to fund the upgrading of community sporting facilities, schools and hospitals around NSW: "spreading the love"! Peter Allen, Castle Cove May I suggest that the government follow one, or all of the following suggestions for paying for their stadium refurbishment/rebuild. Charge the bodies responsible for the upkeep of the venues, as they are supposed to keep them in good order. Raise the money through a levy on poker machine revenue from all sporting clubs, as they are the ones benefiting from the work. Initiate a lottery like the one that helped pay for the Opera House.The money thus saved can then be used for more urgent and relevant projects. A win-win for us and the government. William Roberts, Randwick Can I suggest the state government privatise the stadiums. Then it is no longer its problem. Alternatively they can place Portaloos when needed, and pop-up food stalls. Problem solved.

Anna Rosenwax, Dover Heights If Iemma runs cricket, he has a difficult task In a world where internet trolls roam social platforms, it's hardly surprising that the sports field has become yet another opportunity to express spontaneous vitriol. Morris Iemma has a difficult task ('"I'll clean up cricket"', March 31-April 1). Self-entitlement and dismissal of the rights of others are now deeply embedded in Australian culture. Fair play, respect for others, team work have been replaced by self-promotion and winning at all costs on and off the field. "We're all in this together" needs to become the cornerstone of what it is to be Australian. I hope you can bring the beginnings of more far-reaching change, Morris.

Lindsay Mason, Como When I made my debut for the Philippines national cricket team in Hong Kong in 2012 I was alarmed at the manner in which my captain, an expat Aussie, reprimanded one of my teammates for an innocuous sledge about the inability of the Hong Kong No.3 to hit the ball through the off-side. Immediately the sledging ceased, and we focused on the positives of our performance. This single event gave me deep insight into the culture of cricket in a country where the sport is very much in the developmental phase. It was supremely refreshing and indeed inspiring to see that the sacred spirit of cricket was being upheld. What made this so profound was the reality of my two decades playing cricket in Sydney, Darwin and the Shoalhaven – where, as a half-Asian Australian, I was regularly sledged and verbally abused based on the colour of my skin and the shape of my eyes. Obviously such vile behaviour also existed outside the cricket field (most notably at the Jesuit institution I attended from year 3) but the most surprising and disappointing element of this racism was that it occurred on the cricket field, which to me was a place where each participant was democratically entitled to the fairest of gos. To this end, I greatly admire Iemma's desire to clean up our great game ("I'll clean up cricket", March 31-April1) but sadly I fear the insidious culture that permeates all forms of cricket is irreparable.

Jonathan Hill, Chatswood Stick to your guns, Cricket Australia ("Warner in spotlight as challenge looms", March 31-April 1). The sanctions you have imposed should serve to discourage not just ball-tampering but the misbehaviour that is now the norm in cricket. The ICC's tap on the wrists have made no difference to the behaviour of cricketers for the last 20 years. It's time to draw a line in the sand(paper). Andrew Scott, Pymble On Saturday, I watched the last of the three Australian cricketers apologise for their bad behaviour in South Africa. I must confess watching and listening brought tears to my eyes. As someone said before me these are good men. Something must have happened for the three to lose sight of their good selves. I would be concerned if Warner was left to carry the can for this event. Two others also lost sight of what they stood for as sportsmen representing their country. I have some sympathy for the newest member of the group as he may have felt unable to resist any pressure from the more senior players.

Perhaps the most difficult task for these cricketers will be to forgive themselves. They are already different people to those who erred so badly in their judgment. Perhaps Cricket Australia would do well to understand what led to this event so players are not exposed to similar conditions again. I wish them well and hope I will again be able to observe their skills into the future. Marie Bou, Goulburn What Warner did was against the rules, and he is being punished for it. However, what some South African jackals in the stands did, braying and snarling at Warner's wife and kids, was surely a whole lot worse. In my opinion, so were the jackals of the press, braying at Warner to spill the beans on his teammates so they could get a good story. This sports fan would like to voice his support for the Warner family during this tough time. Dan Katz, Glebe Every young man needs to know there is someone there to support them through life. Especially in the tough times. What a wonderful image of manhood, seeing Peter Smith quietly standing behind his son, just being there.

Judy Dolin, Lane Cove All power to the families and friends now helping our pilloried cricketers. I still remember one of my Dad's sayings, when I did stupid stuff. "Don't forget son, the only man to never make a mistake, never made anything." Peter Bennett, Nelson Bay The much-televised tears and lamentations of the guilty cricketers are happening because they were caught. Susan Dornan, Beecroft

Power bills inflated Recent correspondents have commented on the disproportionate contribution of daily supply charges to their power bills. What has not come to light in the discussion so far is the role of the (allegedly) independent pricing and regulatory authority which permits the owners of the newly privatised distribution networks – the poles and wires – to achieve unrealistically high rates of return on their capital investment. At a time when most investors are struggling to achieve returns at parity with inflation, these companies have seen IPART wave through rates and charges that guarantee them double-digit rates of return. Thus they have no problems with spending up big on gold plating the network. Why not, when there is a guaranteed return? And it explains the iniquitous daily supply charges that make up around half of an average household bill. Don Squires, Lake Cathie Shallow big spenders

So many rich people in Saturday's Herald (sportsmen, business people, criminals) and so little imagination. When faced with the problem of how to spend more money than a human being needs, they opt for big houses, luxury cars, jewellery and designer accessories. Not, it seems, to improve their lives, but rather to demonstrate to others how rich they are. So shallow, and ultimately, so unsatisfying. Bronwyn Bryceson, Mangerton CBA's mafia mate Did the CBA make an offer to Rocco Arico he couldn't refuse? "A Mafia boss from central casting" (March 31-April 1) Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

Seating charge another bite "Would you pay extra for the window seats in a restaurant?" (March 31-April 1)? No.



Barbara Whiddon, Annandale So some restaurants want to charge extra according to where you sit? Pure greed. John Frith, Paddington Coal ads out of place

Watching the fourth cricket Test between Australia and South Africa from New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, I couldn't help but see displayed on the digital advertising boards around the ground "Coal – Building Australia's Future", with no other branding to indicate who was behind the message. Anyone care to shed any light as to who or why such a message would need to reach the South African cricket fans?



Simon Gibbons, Dungog Helping out with Big Issue I certainly would buy The Big Issue, Gill Graham (Letters, March 31-April 1) but they seem to be in short supply up here on the Central Coast. On the plus side, though, we don't have those bicycles littering our footpaths and creating a hazard for disabled people like me.



Dave Horsfall, North Gosford Evening's early pall Farewell daylight saving. Gloom descends on evenings. October 1 can't come fast enough.



Judy Hungerford, North Curl Curl

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