What do you make of the following extract from a cricket magazine article about the game’s mavericks ?

In 1996 a World Cup game took place between the United Arab Emirates and South Africa. With an average of 4.33, the multi-millionaire Sultan Zarawani came to the wicket with his team in trouble at 68 for 6.

Zarawani emerged from the pavilion in a sun hat to face the world’s quickest bowler Allan Donald. A first ball bouncer duly sent him to hospital.

First of all I laughed, but then I thought about the spirit of cricket and was actually disgusted with Donald’s actions. What was he thinking of ? Why bowl a bouncer against a team of such limited ability ? Never mind to a batsman who was clearly not prepared to face such a ball.

At the very top level I understand that there is a need for bouncers, but at our level of cricket it should not raise its ugly head.

Imagine how we would be viewed by our opponents if one of our bowlers sent a bouncer down to cause injury or send someone to hospital. Clearly we would have trouble in renewing the fixture for the following season.

And what we would make of an opposition bowler that deliberately targeted one of our players with the bouncer ? Imagine taking one of your team mates to hospital with a smashed eye socket ?

My view is that bouncers are against the spirit of cricket at our level. But that is only my opinion and obviously everyone is welcome to their own opinion.