What surprises me most about the coverage of the disputed catches in the second Test by AB de Villiers and Michael Vaughan is the view that it is ungentlemanly for a fielder in the outfield to claim a noncatch. Every team appeals for catches by the keeper or silly point that have not been hit and for lbws that hit the bat first. If one form of cheating is not tolerated, why tolerate the other forms?

Michael Hammill, Harpenden

David Gower’s idea (last week) that cricket should return to trusting the fielders begs the question of how they can be certain of a clean catch. The best that can be expected is a feeling that the catch was good - not enough when a decision needs to be verified.

Robert Taylor, Portsmouth

Michael Vaughan has scored 23 in three innings against South Africa and is no longer worth his place. The selectors must identify a new captain in time for Australia’s visit in 2009.

Jeremy Preston, Croughton

The letter from T Jones (last week) about Manchester United fans was hilarious. Was he around in the early 1970s when United were awful? Can he explain the highest crowds in the league then? I doubt it.

Sean Gillespie, Hull

This is how United fans are born. An eight-year-old from Ancoats, near the centre of Manchester, is taken to see United for the first time - the team includes Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton and Roger Byrne. The eight-year-old is hooked. How do I know? I was that eight-year-old.

Vincent Marcoft, Manchester

F1 is a joke. Lewis Hamilton had a huge lead in the German GP wiped out when the safety car came out for someone else’s bad driving.

Steve West, Cardiff

Jeff Elliott (Letters, last week) may be right to say it is unlikely we will see a working-class tennis star but Fred Perry was a working-class boy from Stockport and he didn’t do too badly.

Ken Frith, Poynton, Cheshire

What a magnificent Open. It was talked down on the basis that Tiger Woods was not there but in the conditions a fairweather, target golfer of Woods’s style would have toiled.

John Brisbourne, Dorking, Surrey

Please tell your writers Royal Birkdale is in Merseyside and not west Lancashire.

Steve Leggett, via email

Although I’m glad Dwain Chambers lost his appeal, an important point is being missed. Shotputter Carl Myerscough tested positive for anabolic steroids in 1999 and received a two-year ban. He has since represented GB on several occasions. It is time the bodies governing British athletics were more consistent.

Richard Reardon, Carlisle

Douglas Webster (last week) is worried rugby union is moving towards league. As somebody who has played both, I assure him he need have no concerns. Union is a long way from being as entertaining as league.

Peter Richards, Ashton-in-Makerfield

Send your letters to: The Sports Editor The Sunday Times 1 Pennington Street London E98 1ST email: sportletters@sunday-times.co.uk

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