'the game finds itself a vehicle for moral and behavioural issues far beyond its compass"

My fellow fine upstanding law-abiding citizens,

"W. G. Grace, the first cricketing superstar, was regularly guilty of irksome subterfuges..."
"One county captain was seen to do the job against the concrete on the pavilion steps".

Never mind what Pup thinks...to give it some perspective, have a lookie at this one penned by Derek Pringle way back in '95, on the Dirt in Pocket affair.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153196.html

"...fair play is largely a notion that affects bowlers. And far from being a blessing, it is becoming an encumbrance for players as the game finds itself a vehicle for moral and behavioural issues far beyond its compass."

"What for years were accepted but mildly frowned-upon practices, like picking the seam, have now been labelled cheating. That's a big word. What people would once have had a bit of a laugh about in the bar is now being flatly denied. Nobody wants to be labelled a cheat. It's all the media's fault for going overboard to get their story. The Sunday Mirror recently quoted Geoff Boycott admitting that Yorkshire players in his day sometimes played around with the ball. Three of the first 55 words were bombshell, incredible and sensationally."

The Unrepentant Apologist.