In the absence of a trophy for contests between India and England, a la the Ashes, perhaps the boards should be instituting a jar of jelly beans for the eventual victor.

What a trophy to fight for! Imagine Dravid holding up a magnum of jelly beans after this series concludes. The TV networks would also welcome the telegenic potential of the victor showering his team with multi coloured beans.

Rajan Iyer, Melbourne, Australia

Is Peter Moores just trying to prevent the indespicable words his lads keep sledging with? If its just harmless banter then what is he afraid of?

Looks like he has just admitted openly " Look my lads want to keep saying those bad words which I do not want children back home to listen. But I would not do anything to stop that. But you should mute that mike."

ILoveCricket, Bradford, UK

This is really an overreaction. The jelly beans are so insignificant compared to the actions of the indian bowler and batsmen. To deliberatly barge someone, or aim the ball at a batsmens head or wave your bat at someone are the matters that we should be reading about not the fact that a couple of sweets may or may not have been placed on the pitch. Sledging has been part of cricket for a long long time ask the aussies and south africans. Get over this

Michael, Poole, Dorset,

This shows ICC and its match officials are fully controlled by England. Just like UN being controlled by America. I bet, it same behaviors and jelly joke was done by an Asian team or Australia, the same English officials and ICC gang would rape opposition for pitch altering and other out of world allegation.
Officials like Moore deserve to be out of cricket. He will hurt cricket in long term.
Question is also on Asian fielders for being soft. In this case, Sreesanth apologize in media twice…for what? Zaheer and Dravid not complaining to ICC. No matter what happens…Indian players will show that they are soft.

Nick Peter, USA,

English cricket at the top level has gone downhill ever since the Atherton "dirt in the pocket" incident and cheating now seems to be part of the game. Pity that Mr Moores didn't condemn it out of hand.
I hope the microphones are left on all the time and the volume turned up so that we can hear what the cheats have to say. Maybe they will keep a little quieter then.

Keith Fletcher, Chesham, England

England coch Peter Moores should fired by ECB for making such comments about 'Sledging'. It is very difficlt to undertand his rational how this helps the Gentelman's game in white Cricket?

These are different times than Midevel times of the past. This kind of Childish tactics by English players and coaching staff does not help the game Cricket.

G2m, San Jose, USA

The sort of sledging and constant chat which Matt Prior and his kind exemplify ought to have no place in any form of cricket, Test or otherwise. However, the reason we have to witness such behaviour - and what an appalling example it is - is because Cricket's governing bodies, and I include the MCC in this, have failed to take a proper lead in the matter. Players must be told what is and what is not acceptable, and those who overstep the mark must be severely punished. Otherwise, the lowest common denominator will apply, as in football and much of modern life, and we will be left with a game which true lovers of cricket will want no part of. The MCC are supposed to espouse the 'spirit of cricket'. The sort of sledging we hear about in the modern game is well outside that spirit, and it's about time the authorities displayed some strong leadership.

Colin Smith, London,

Dan, no-one's suggesting we need to be "chummy" with the opposition. However infantile behaviour like throwing sweets on the wicket is unnecessary and infantile. We only need to look to the 2005 Ashes to see a great contest between 2 closely matched sides, played with maximum passion and commitment without anyone demeaning themselves in this fashion.

Genuine aggression and menace in a battle (think Donald vs Atherton or Flintoff vs Ponting) makes for a captiviating contest and some of the best cricket I can remember. Behaviour like this only serve to embarrass the players concerned and by extension the country itself.

Ed Duncan, London,

I have read that teams seek the 'mental disintegration' of opponents. Ideally this disintegration comes from superior performance - but also includes inane remarks. (Do you remember "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but harsh words never will")

Now we apparently have hit a new low with arificicial aids ( jelly beans) being used/. What other aids will England now use to seek the mental disintegration of opponents?

Concentrate on bowling, batting and fielding so that oppponents expect to be beaten - that is when real mental disintegration takes place

Wessex Man, Taunton,

Instead of dealing with the disgraceful 'over the top' behaviour of the players he attacks the stump microphone...that says it all as to the society we live in. Cricket used to be a game for decent people - not now of course we are in the 'new age 'of uneducated riff-raff both on and off the field.
Next time you are out on a golf course try coughing whilst your opponent is on his backswing - you wont be invited again that's a promise. Just try cheating at golf -this is a simple an example but watch the behaviour of these professional sportsmen or snooker players who call their own fouls nobody in those governing bodies will protect cheats.

victor cowen, Malaga, Spain

100% right Steve.

Perhaps The Times could let us all know which one of the chavs who represent England drives the Porsche Carrera?

ManchesterO, Manchester, UK

Since this is done by English player you may call it childish. However, if this had been done by opposing team what would you have called it as -- "Doctoring the pitch to its favour". The ruling of third umpire needs to be verified if this is in order? The game is played by seniors with resposibility and such prankish attitude can not be exonerated.

S.K.S, Morden, Surrey, U.K.

At last it is clear why Moore got the job. His ability as a " chirping" coach clearly gave him the edge over other candidates. He's now reinforcing that reputation by condoning the yobbish behaviour of his players. He' has obviously forgotten Denis Healy's "law of holes", namely, when you're in one, stop digging.

Bina, Worcester Park, Surrey

If there is no meaning to the "incident", why did it occur in the first place? If you want to be chummy with the opposition in the international arena I suggest you find alternative sports to play.

Dan Avey, Reading, Berkshire

I play for a village team and on Saturday I shall go out to bat in the sunshine, I shall be seen with a smile by those driving past the ground, my turn at the crease shall be an antidote to my week in the office and it shall be part of an afternoon spent with friends in a gentle celebration of one of England's most traditional pastimes. I shall get to the crease and some 16 year old wicket keeper will start sledging me.

Matt Prior....you and your shameful kind are responsible for this. You may play for England, but you do not represent me or the game of cricket I and millions of others love.

My father was right when he taught me that winning without dignity is not winning.

Steve Baldock, Handcross, England