SIR – Could I believe me eyes when I read the article (T&A, September 18) reporting that £500,000 has been allocated to two highly-paid scientists to prove that professional cricketers – I assume batsmen – have exceptional vision.

May I remind them that some of our greatest batsmen – eg Boycott, Steele, Lloyd, Barlow – wore glasses for the best part of their careers. The results of this highly-expensive research may never be published, so why waste it paying in the main massive salaries, when it could have been put to much more necessary research to the benefit of many more people.

Gerald A Smith, Gray Close, Horton Bank Top