ROBERT Croft and Andy Caddick have every right to refuse to tour India with the England cricket team just as the six Chelsea players had to opt out of traveling to Israel.

These sportsmen have been unfairly criticised for their decisions to stay at home rather than travel to potentially dangerous parts of the world.

Among the many ridiculous viewpoints was a top writer in one heavyweight newspaper this week who suggested that sportsmen should show the same qualities he shows on the sports field such as composure and nerve at moments of pressure.

What rubbish. These are sportsmen, not soldiers, and it is their place in the world to perform well on the football and cricket fields not in a warzone.

Thankfully we still live in a free country and where a sportsman's safety could be at risk it is only right that he is at liberty to decide for himself whether he stays or goes.