Cricketers Must Strive Harder To Become Competent Umpires

Chronicle (Levin), 20 January 1949, Page 7

Cricketers Must Strive Harder To Become Competent Umpires

r "Not Out")

(Bj

The most outstanding feature of Horowhenua cricket on Saturday was the umpiring-. It is a great pity that this player- ; umpire problem causes so much ^unpleasantness match after 'j match. . ; j The fault lies, firstly, with the players and, secondly, with j the captains. The players, knowing that they will be called on I to umpire, should see that they ar.e competent — in as much as i the attainment of that standard lies within their hands. The ! captains should take a more intelligent interest in who goes.out to umpire, and so prevent the incpmpetent from taking the | field.

Last Saturday in one partieular match it was even obvious to the spectators that the umpire had erred. This occurred in both sides' irihings and it is certainly most unsatisfactory. It is to be hoped that in future an improvement will ,be seen, but this will only be posjsible if everyone co-operates, and if the game is played in the true spirit. Shannon played at headquartefs fiast Saturday and it was interesting to see this leading team in action. I'm certain they felt the 'absence of their captain, J. McNeil. not so much as a captain, for : T. Roach can handle the team, ■but when the "rot set in" during their batting' McNeil would have been the one to go out, stay there and so give the remaijiing batsmen confidence. Unfortunaiely for Shannon, no batsman showed confi'dcnce and the side was all out for 66. Although Levin forced a fol- : low on, there were still five wickets | to fall when time was called. ! The infielding of the Shannon team was good, Roach, Tippler and Ivloore stopping many runs. The sume could not be said of those in the outfield. One particularly disappointing fielder was the selected representative, T. Fuller. •, He certuinly had a day off, both in the field and with the bat. B. Harris, the club's stock bowler, always ap- 1 peared to be on top of the' , batsmen, but it is a pity h^ towls so many no balls. ActuallypTrom the spectators point of vieWf-in ■ line with the wickets — it appeared that the umpires were lenient with him. j Tlie error is absol-ately unneces- 1 saryf for by starting his run six

inches further back it could be eliminated. I thought this player made a poor effort to take a catch in -the outfield, one that should have been in the bag, and he lost it by not moying to it quickly enough. However, he made amends later by diving full-length and .aking ieft handed, • low down, an exceedingly difficult one. Wadsworth, the Shannon keeper, gave a good exhibition and deserved better luck. On viewing the Shannon team as a whole, their position at'the top of the fadder is due not to any outstanding player, but to the way the players haVe moulded into a team. Levin, Shanrion's opponents last Saturday, had Jheir moments and it was the partnership of Galloway and Granger which saved them. Gfanger certainly. had the wind witix him, but on. more than . one occasion he has played the .correct gamp and been able to close up one /end until the necessary runs are on the board. Galloway, whois hoted for generally having a few lives, did not give a chance on Saturday until he was bowled at 43. Congratulations to centurymakers seems to be becoming a weekly affair and this week crick- ' eters -..extend them to Keogh, of Paraparaumu, for his 101 not out against Weraroa — a fairly ^strong 1 attacking side. Interest fp 'this game. was , maintained until the finaL.over'.'l' When the over started, Weraroa, with . their last rqan in, required four runs to win|| while. Paraparaumu required the • wjcket to .wiri. The bowler won the bp-ttle qnd" Paraparaumu the match by three runs. ... \ ' . - 1