Not Cricket

Book excerpt: Nick is an ace wicket-keeper who loves to play cricket. He greatly respects his primary school coach who believes in the spirit of cricket and trains the team to play fairly. As the end of primary school draws near, Nick decides to join a local club so he can keep improving at the game. With the encouragement of his father, Nick joins his dad's old club and earns a spot as wicket-keeper. Unfortunately things don't go to plan and Nick's dreams turn sour. The team members are unfriendly, being more interested in personal achievements than team effort, and as far as Nick is concerned they don’t play by the rules. Torn between his mother's sense of fair play and his father's dreams that his son would play for his old cricket team, Nick becomes increasingly unhappy as the true nature of his new team mates comes to light. Sledging the opposition, tampering with the ball, ignoring the captain and refusing to 'walk' are behaviours that Nick does not agree with. His first reaction is to leave the club and, when he walks after being given not out, anger builds between him and the team. It is time to get out or make a stand. From Raewyn Caisley, the acclaimed and established author of TOP MARKS, IN UNION, HOT SHOT, TENNIS STAR, QUEEN’S CUBBY, FREE STYLE and GREAT LEAD, comes another book in the popular Junior Sports Series.