LIKE D Doherty of Cheltenham I, too, was at the Australian match, sitting a few yards from the streaker he witnessed.

My perception of things was somewhat different. While play was going on, the mood of the crowd was sometimes loud and raucous, but always utterly good-natured, friendly and un-threatening.

During breaks in play, hundreds of spectators spilled on to the field to enjoy their own mini-games - about 70-80 separate games, I calculated.

These games were often only a few feet apart, and yet the players - varying between five-year-old girls, 20-year-old men and aging grandparents - were universally co-operative and good-natured in helping each other to retrieve balls from neighbouring games.

There were no police or stewards in sight, for the very good reason that there was no need of them. Far from feeling in need of safety and protection, a fair-minded spectator could feel unmixed pleasure in the sight and atmosphere of so many people, in such a restricted area and with no supervision, enjoying themselves and helping others to do the same.

It was a superb demonstration of what cricket offers the world - a lesson in life as it should be lived. Mr Doherty should visit the ground more often!

ROBERT STONE,

Worcester