Cheating, corruption and cricket.

Today represents another sad day in cricket's recent history as former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield was found guilty of corruption.

Today's revelations come fast after the much publicised court case involving Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. All three were given prison sentences and Westfield could now follow suit.

The amounts of money in the Pakistan trial beggared belief. Huge sums, capable of changing lives. What is more concerning about the Westfield case is that the 23 year old accepted just £6,000 for deliberating bowling badly in a Pro40 game against Durham.

It throws up an array of questions. Are our young cricketers paid enough? Are they protected enough by the counties and by the sport? How far does corruption seep into the game? The list goes on...

PCA chief executive Angus Porter believes corruption in cricket is too easy because of its nature. "The spirit of the game" is built into cricket's laws and it's long been the virtue of honesty above all else. But as cycling has had it's troubles with drugs, will cricket now be treated with the same cynicism?

Comebacks...

It's been a while hasn't it? Apologies, but after a three (might be four) month absence Armchair Athlete is making a return. One of many New Years Resolutions includes updating this blog more frequently.

Hopefully that will last past February.

Unfortunately, for Arsenal fans at least, Thierry Henry's comeback wont be going into the spring. But what an impact the Frenchman made upon his return. A goal scoring (second) debut and a match winning one at that against Leeds in the FA Cup and it's all feeling a little like 2002 again.

Much so because Paul Scholes is gracing a Manchester United team sheet once more too. They say "never go back" but Scholes and Henry have defied that and one hopes it wont be to the detriment of the memories they have already given the fans of Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

The return of these club legends is great for the media. Everyone loves seeing old footage of Henry's brilliant goal against Spurs at Highbury or Scholes smashing it in against Barca. Ah, the memories I hear you all say.

But before we go too far and start whittling on about the good old days, there is a more underlining issue regarding both these signings. Does it not smack of desperation by Fergie and Wenger to opt of bringing a man out of retirement and a player in the winter of his career? And quite what it says to those players already in the squads.

Exceptions that prove the rule occur all the time. Let's hope Scholes and Henry can do that and not tarnish the great careers they already have in the can.