Mervyn Westfield

[mawallace]

Interesting to see that he is now returning to cricket, playing for Suffolk.

There is irony somewhere though! BBC are reporting that his first match may be against... Essex!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35593894

[Andy]

Paid his dues, unlike Kaneria (spits) he admitted his guilt. Don't know whether he'll be anywhere the bowler he was (which wasn't exactly lilliee class anyway) but if he does prove capable of making it as a first class cricketer I wouldn't stop him. Hopefully in 2017 we won't need him, but we don't have seamers coming through as well as the batters.

[Valentines Park]

Wish him well.

A prison sentence was harsh punishment for his offence.

[huttoneagle]

made a mistake and paid the price.

Has shown genuine remorse with his anti-corruption work for the PCA.

A good luck to the lad, hope he makes a success of it

[bwildered]

Would be interesting if Derbyshire took him on.  Unless he takes a shed load on wickets for Suffolk, at 27 unlikely to progress from the minor counties.

[squarelegumpire]

made a mistake and paid the price.

Has shown genuine remorse with his anti-corruption work for the PCA.

A good luck to the lad, hope he makes a success of it

Agree. Clearly got into bad company and paid a heavy price.

[Andy]

Would be interesting if Derbyshire took him on.  Unless he takes a shed load on wickets for Suffolk, at 27 unlikely to progress from the minor counties.

But half decent seamers seem thin on the ground?

[nat]

Can't agree with all of your sentiments I'm afraid. Once corrupt always tainted.

[squarelegumpire]

Can't agree with all of your sentiments I'm afraid. Once corrupt always tainted.

I’m not sure whether this country can be described as “Christian" any longer,  but the memory lingers, and isn’t there something about more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent?

[Andy]

Can't agree with all of your sentiments I'm afraid. Once corrupt always tainted.

I’m not sure whether this country can be described as “Christian" any longer,  but the memory lingers, and isn’t there something about more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent?

Amen. But it will always taint him, although he of anyone will be keen to avoid having to take very quick showers in HMP.

[brianh]

I think we must put this in perspective. The cricketer, I believe, was offered £5,000 for his transgression. To a young man presumably not learned in the ways of the world, this may seemed like a fortune. I probably think that he could not have thought beyond this as he simply wasn't aware of life meant. We should now refer him to a counsellor, which I hope has been one already. I have never met the young man but I am sure that he would treat any such offer now as suspicious, I hope so. Whatever counselling he needs should help, and if he wants to get back to cricket, let him do so, he has paid the price, and hopefully he can get to what would to what should be normality. THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD DO WE.

[PIES200]

we all make mistakes, he has served his punishment,paid his dues and if good enough should not be held back by his past. he has worked hard for and with the PCA and is actually a thoroughly nice fella, Kaneria has never been called to book and should be his influence over Merve was massive.

Really wish him all the best.

[nat]

we all make mistakes, he has served his punishment,paid his dues and if good enough should not be held back by his past. he has worked hard for and with the PCA and is actually a thoroughly nice fella, Kaneria has never been called to book and should be his influence over Merve was massive.

Really wish him all the best.

Would you say the same thing if he had been convicted of similar offences as Adam Johnson?

[Andy]

we all make mistakes, he has served his punishment,paid his dues and if good enough should not be held back by his past. he has worked hard for and with the PCA and is actually a thoroughly nice fella, Kaneria has never been called to book and should be his influence over Merve was massive.

Really wish him all the best.

Would you say the same thing if he had been convicted of similar offences as Adam Johnson?

Why not? At least Johnson got caught, tried and convicted. Of course, the question is how long should someone convicted of that offence should remain in jail (which is a debate for outside of this BB) but usually we'd expect a long sentence so that he'd not be fit enough to play at the top level anyway.

[nat]

The point I'm making is ...
...
His offence of match fixing/spot fixing makes him unemployable in a sporting environment.

The analogy is where someone who has been convicted of fraud would find it next to impossible to gain employment in a finance role.