From the publishers of THE HINDU

Good show

Sir, - The npower Test series between India and England ended with the teams sharing the trophy. India started the England tour on a low but came back strongly after winning the Natwest tri-series.

Indian batsmen were seen to be doing pretty well,though we lost the first Test. Rahul Dravid was the pick and deservingly won the Man of the Series award for India. His career best score of 217 in the fourth Test and crossing the 1000- run mark in a calendar year should be complimented too. He is very much committed to the team's cause and donned the big gloves whenever his team neededit. He is indeed a rare cricketer.

P. KANNAN, SRIVILLIPUTTURNot fair

Sir, - There never was,there isn't and there never will be another Bradman. Out of the 80 times he went to the crease in a Test, he knocked a century or more 29 times.

His batting average was an unprecedented 99.94, a matchless one. Tendulkar's 30 centuries include ones against teams which came recently into the international fray. Bradman had to contend with far superior bowlers.

And one had to earn Bradman's wicket,while Sachin Tendulkar plays some atrocious strokes to get out. This was seen in the second Test between India and England. The way he got himself out twice in the first Test was no better. Therefore there is no comparison. By comparing him with Bradman, we are only making his task difficult.

CHAND J. ARYASINGHA, GLENDALEEnjoyable column

Sir, - I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how immensely I enjoy reading Krish Srikkanth's columns. The recent one on Sachin Tendulkar was a delight. It is a nice feeling to see a former ace cricketer to be truly humbled by a player who made his debut under his captaincy. Srikkanth praising Sachin makes one appreciate his greatness even more.

RAM MURALI, MEMPHISNot again

Sir, -- This is with reference to Amrit Mathur's column - A victory for talent (The Sportstar, Aug. 24). The present wicket-keepers cannot match Nayan Mongia in technique. Parthiv Patel has got the talent. But it is too early to make a judgment and compare him with others.

True, talent is needed but it has to be seen how he performs under pressure. Remember the same was said about Deep Dasgupta.One failure was enough to bring him down. On the other hand Nayan Mongia has been dropped for no reason even after performing so well in the domestic circuit.

K.KARTHIK, BANGALORESame story

Sir, - The Indian men's hockey team raises no hope of winning a medal as was seen from its performance in the recent Champions Trophy where it could not finish even third. Despite having got a chance to participate in the Champions Trophy after a long gap, India did not capitalise on the opportunity. The IHF seems to give little thought to consolidate the team to face the elite hockey nations.

Moreover, the team surprisingly remained almost the same that did duty in the two-leg four nation tournament.

No reasons were assigned for the debacle then. If the team is likely to be the same for the Asian Games, then there is no point in expecting something big from the players and coaches.

B.RAJNIKANTH, PATNA