Down the Wicket: Part 4

By BOB CALLETT, Illustrations DAVID KEARNEY

It was a warm and sunny April day and Frankie's sister, Jo, the team secretary and organiser of everything that happens at the club, got us together for a photo before training started. As usual Clive was the last to arrive. Jo put her camera on automatic and joined the group. That's her on the right. Frankie is the one wearing wicket-keeper's pads in the front row. Ohbert - sitting between them with his Walkman on full blast - is our secret weapon. He looks like the worst cricketer in the world but he has the habit of making strange things happen on the cricket field, usually by accident or sheer fluke. No one who saw it will ever forget his amazing run-out in the League of Champions final or the boundary catch against Griffiths Hall in Barbados.

Back row: Marty Lear, Erica Davies, Cal Sebastien, Tylan Vellacott, Matthew Rose, Kris Johansen, Clive da Costa

Front row: Azzie Nazar, Mack McCurdy, Jacky Gunn, Hooker Knight, Frankie Allen, Ohbert Bennett, Jo Allen.

Publisher: Random House, $14.95

Age group: 8-12 years