Write-ups by players damage morale: Boycott

8220;As for newspaper columns, I would get rid of those altogether. In my day, everything we wrote in the papers had to be submitted to the authorities, both at the county office and Lord8217;s. If it came through all those checks, it was bound to be pretty watery stuff. In which case, why bother in the first place? I would say to players, if you want to be a journalist, retire,8221; Boycott wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

8220;Today8217;s players earn far more than my generation ever dreamed of. I am delighted for them 8211; it is right that they should be well remunerated. In cricket, the top players8217; contracts start at 350,000 pounds, and that8217;s before all the sponsorship deals and endorsements; they don8217;t really need the extra cash that comes with a ghosted autobiography or newspaper column,8221; he added.

Boycott said if need be, the respective Boards should hike the players8217; salaries in exchange of assurances that they would not write for newspapers.

8220;The authorities should put up their salaries by 10,000-20,000 pounds in exchange for assurances that they will follow these guidelines. It would be worth it in the long run: think of all the rows and crises that would be stifled at birth,8221; he said.

8220;If the players don8217;t agree, the authorities can use the ultimate sanction: don8217;t pick them. Not playing for England would cut their income back by two-thirds at least, even before you talk about the loss of sponsors, who have little or no interest in county cricket. Hit the players in the pocket that will make them think,8221; Boycott suggested.

Boycott felt even coaches should not be allowed to write memoirs of their stint before a time lapse of at least two years from quitting the job.

8220;Who benefits from these hostile exchanges? All they do is create bitterness and conflict, making it twice as hard to achieve a unified team spirit.8221;

8220;A two-year delay would take the sting and immediacy out of these reminiscences. The fact that he Flintoff let himself down by boozing in Australia would have felt far less emotive and damaging once everyone knew which way his career was headed,8221; he said, referring to Duncan Fletcher8217;s revelations about the all-rounder8217;s drinking habits in his autobiography.

Boycott, who has already called Fletcher a 8220;hypocrite8221; and a 8220;sour man8221;, said the former England coach and the rest of his ilk have done nothing more but tarnish the game with their money-spinning memoirs.

8220;The authors of all these shameless cash-ins owe sport a hell of a lot; it is sad to see them tarnishing its name,8221; he said.