The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10
Cricket Players Not
Yet in Form
Opening Games Shop Poor Bat
ting. but Boplers Play
We'll
By William Unmack

The two cricket games last Sunday
clearly showed that the players are
not anywhere near their true form.
Wilkes of the Pacifics and Croli OF the
Alamedas were perhaps the only men
of the four teams who showed quality
with the bat. wilkins 29 in the first
and II not out in the second innings
showed his perfect control of the bat
He is a very finished batsman and eau
tious. In the bowling he was prac-
tically unplayable, accounting for five
wickets for only six runs in the Ala
media first innings. 1t was rather un-
fortunate for his team that he could
not see his way clear to complete the
game. Had he done SO 1t is quite
probable the Alameda win would not
have been so big. and ii is even within
the range of probability that Wilkes
bowling might have brought victory to
his side. However, Wilkes had to de-
part for Stockton. The Alameda team
deserved its victory. and the next time
the two veteran teams meet an excit-
| ing game will be the result.
| Petherick. Is. was the only other
man OF the Pacifics to reach double
figures
OF the Alameda batsmen, StahI 10.
and Croll, 16, in the first innings, were
the only double figure men. while
Croll. 26. and Ward IA. in the second
innings. were the only men to reach
the two columns. CroIl was in really
good form with the bat, and gave a
nice exhibition.
In both games last Sunday it ap-
pears to have been "bowlers' day.
Some really startling averages were
recorded. with Wilkes (Pacific) Ave
for six. and Irish (Alameda) seven for
90. Stahl (Alameda) secured the best
average OF the day, taking two wick
cts for only one run. Probably the
most consistent bowler of the day.
however, was tombstone of the Barba-
rians. He bowled 81 balls. took II
wickets and only had % runs scored
off him. He is probably one of the
best bowlers in the association and
has great variety, both in speed and
breaks. He kept good length all
through the game, and he was scored
off very slowly. In the same game
Stewart tWanderers) also did well,
taking Ave for, eight runs. Lyman
| (Barbarians) is very fast bowler,
and for some time kept the Wanderers
guessing. All through both games
| batsmen clearly showed their lack Of
! form, or II such was not the case, then
the bowling must certainly have been
| phenomenal, which / doubt very much.
The only .disagreeable episode of the
| days sport was the incompetence OF
one of the umpires at the stadium
game. The umpire in question not only
gave his opponents out when they
were not, but he also rendered unfair
decisions regarding his own side. Laf-
ferty of the Barbarians was given out
]. b. w, to-a bowler bowling round the
wicket, and right off the wicket and
breaking to leg at least foot How
man could be out under such condi-
! tions is beyond me- Charlie Banner
| the oldest active cricketer In this ceun-
| try and member of the Wanderers
was sitting right behind the wicket al
the time watching the break, and he
informed. me that Lafferty was posi-
lively not out.
Such lack of knowledge as displayed
by this umpire only goes to confirm
the remarks made at the last associa-
tion meeting that an unapires' associa-
tion should be formed and this asso-
citation appoint competent umpires to
| all pennant fixtures. Enough compe-
! tent enthusiasts could be got together
| for such purpose who would be only
too willing to act every other Sunday
| / really think the association ought to