Down the Wicket: Part 2

By BOB CALLETT, Illustrations DAVID KEARNEY

I walked back from the end of the square and measured out my 15-pace run up. Then I raced in and bowled an imaginary off-cutter. In my mind's eye I saw the ball bounce on a perfect length, cut back sharply between the batsman's bat and pad and rip out the middle stump. As it cartwheeled through the air and the bails flew, I swung round, arm raised in triumph, and on one knee screamed an appeal at the nonexistent umpire. That was when I saw Frankie and Cal walking towards me from the pavilion, pointing.

"If the first sign of madness is talking to yourself, what does playing cricket on your own without a bat and ball make you?" said Frankie to Cal in a loud voice. Frankie is Glory Gardens' plump wicket-keeper, and Cal usually opens the batting and bowls handy off-breaks - he lives next door to me and he's my best friend. I'm Hooker Knight, by the way, captain of Glory Gardens. My nickname Hooker' comes from my initials: Harry Oliver O'Neil Knight.

Publisher: Random House, $14.95

Age group: 8-12 years