comments this week by Anthony (Pacer) Edwards who ridiculed the standard of local officiating.

A BCUA spokesman labelled his remarks as "uncalled for and unjustified''.

In announcing on Wednesday that he was quitting the sport, fast bowler Edwards, who was the victim of a controversial stumping dismissal during a Knockout Cup match against Bailey's Bay in his first game back following a two week suspension, blasted the current level of officiating.

"...with inexperienced umpires they're killing the game,'' the 33-year-old paceman was quoted as saying. He also questioned the scheduling of less senior umpires for matches involving the leading clubs.

However, BCUA secretary Randy Butler rejected all assertions by Edwards, inferring that it was Edwards, not the umpires, who was ignorant of the laws under which the game is played.

"I was surprised to read the remarks concerning the umpires by Anthony Edwards, especially when over the years as a player for Devonshire Rec., he has enjoyed all the best umpires,'' said Butler, who has long appealed for players to attend courses sponsored by the BCUA in order to gain increased knowledge of the rules.

"The umpiring in the past and now has been very good and he has reaped the fruits of it.

"There was simply no need for what he did or said.

"You don't, when you're coming to the end of your career, come out and cry down all the umpires. You can't take one decision and use it to criticise everybody.'' Infuriating Edwards during last Sunday's match was a stumping decision by square-leg umpire Ewing Davis. It was Edwards' opinion that the ball was `dead' at the time of the stumping.

Remonstrations against Bay players and the umpires by a bat-wielding Edwards were said to have followed, although he firmly denied making any such gestures.

But Butler stood by his beleaguered comrade, adding that the decision was a fair and just one.

"His (Edwards') mistake was in assuming the ball was dead, but that isn't a decision for Anthony Edwards to make and it is clear that he doesn't know the rules as well as he says, even after all these years,'' said Butler, who also questioned the timing of the player's outburst. "Here you have a club, Devonshire Rec., with a lot of young players and what he did did not set a good example.

"Every batsman doesn't like certain decisions against him. Still, once they are made you walk, plain and simple.'' Meanwhile, Edwards and the umpires in question have been summoned to attend a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night regarding the latest incident.

The battle for top places in the Premier League continues this weekend with seven matches as the season enters its busiest stage.

Leaders Western Stars travel to St. David's to meet the Islanders while second-placed Bailey's Bay are also away this weekend, travelling to the west end to play Somerset.

St. David's have named fast bowler Dale Fox in their squad of 13 for the match against Stars, despite the fact he was asked to leave the field last weekend by captain Lionel Cann.

Fox showed his annoyance after being taken off the bowling after just one over against Cleveland. When skipper Cann later called on Fox to bowl a second spell the bowler refused and was told to leave the field.

Bailey's Bay should still be at least in second place after their visit to Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow. Bay have been missing some key players through suspension and unavailability but still remain unbeaten from nine matches.

Nationals, third, face a tricky away match against unpredictable Flatts at Devonshire Rec. where Brandon Woolridge -- one of Nationals' most consistent performers this season -- will be playing against his former team-mates.

Fourth placed Police will have their sights on third place when they host mid-table Southampton Rangers while St. George's, 10 points behind Police, should add to last-placed Social Club's recent misery with a win at Nationals.

In other matches Cleveland, who will meet Bailey's Bay in the first round of the Eastern Counties on July 15, take on struggling Devonshire at Sea Breeze Oval while Warwick meet PHC at Southampton Oval in an evenly balanced local derby.

The match between Somerset Bridge and Willow Cuts, which was scheduled for this weekend initially, was played on May 20.

RANDY BUTLER