The morning call., 1893-05-21

ton. The clubs played matches on wick
cts, merely bare ground, bunny and dan
gerous TO batsmen. Skill cut no figure in
compiling score: the "duffer" of team
stood the same chance of making runs as
the best batsman. The good men lost in
terest in the game because large scores
ana genuine enth usiasm were particularly
noticeable by their absence.
Now how different is the situation. The
game is q real pleasure to play. The vari-
Gus clubs contend in friendly rivalry as to
who supplies the best wicket, the con-
crete, with mating tightly spread over it,
being in general use and supplying long
felt want. The best men can prove their
eXpertness. Skill is applauded. The in
ferior batsmen try TO improve and under
the new conditions do 80 rapidly. The re-
suit of this is a healthy and friendly rivalry
between both clubs and players. without
which cricket or any other purely amateur
sport cannot support Itself.
These few Introductory remarks are
mentioned as a leader to the prospects Of
the coming season.
No less than five strong clubs now claim
membership in the California Cricket AS
ISOLATION. The three old ones are the Ala
medas. Pacifics and CALIFORNIA;, thu first
named being the winner of the Harrison
cup last wear.
The new elevens promise to hold their
end up so far as playing is concerned. The
San jose CLUB has yet 10 be heard from on
the held: 1t has some Well-known players
who 10 doubt will give good account Of
themselves when the proper time comes.
The San Franciscos have already played
credltabB against scratch team Of cricket
ers. The old CALIFORNIA; in the first cup
match played last Sunday went down be-
fore them like nnepius.
With such capable and wel-tried man
as Webster who behind the wickets ana
at the bat is host in himself, Robertson,
the California demon bowler, Purdv and
Bowhill, old Pacifies who have cast in
their lot with the baby club. REYNOLDS.
Moreton, Clegg. Keith and others who
have consistently and ably welded the
willow In previous years, the team should
make great race for the pennant of 1898
OF the old clubs the Alamedas are de-
cldedly weaker than last season, and with
the loss OF DenzelI, MeLaren and Law
renee " III be considerably crippled in the
bowling department.
However. there's as good fish in the sea
as ever were caught, and no doubt some
new prodigy in the trnBdling line Will be
unearthed to help the old CLUB out
The Juniors, the Pacics, are mostly
new men, Judging from the many favor
able notices to be seen in the press on the
rrun-gettIng or bowling proclivities of some
y0nng Pacific" BE that as it NAV, if the
Pacific players are young in years they
certainly are not youngsters at cricket.
The enthusiastic rustling of Charley
Hill, their genial secretary, for new play
erS has been most successful, and several
promising new men will be found donning
the black and scarlet of the club. Me-
Auley notably may be- classed as top
sawyer. very speedy bowler-at times a
little wild. but when on the wicket most
dangerous man. Cassidy is another really
good bowler and a fair bat, though not
shining in that line SO well as McAuley.
Sheath is first-class all-round man and as
good cricketer as we possess on the
coast. Bennett and Cookson particularly
are bowiers Of no mean caiiber and always
want watching Theobald, Hill, Adams,
Ward and other veterans can always be
relied on to do good service.
Ii It were not for some unseen influence
which seems to peryade some of their best
batsmen when at the wickets and their
feldn,en when attempting 10 pull down a
fly the team would win the cup. Practice
during The coming season may wear this
away. II 1t does let Alameda, California
and San Francisco beware, for they surely
will have 10 put more than their best foot
forward TO be lin III. e., in the contest
for the William Greer Harrison challenge
cup OF 1893.