Books by Bob Cattell

Eleven cricket-themed short stories, each set in a different country.

GLORY GARDENS C.C. are now in the North County Under Thirteen League, and the pressure is really on. Hooker, as captain, worries that the team won't be able to hold it together: arrogant Clive is always picking fights, Ohbert is still as useless as ever, and there are all the usual rows and injuries. But there's also Mack, the new player; the lucky mascot 'Gatting'; plus the whole team's unwavering determination to win against all the odds.

Hooker, Azzie, Erica and the rest all play cricket in their spare time, but they've never taken it very seriously until now. Kiddo, one of their school teachers, suggests they form an official team and play proper matches - and Glory Gardens C.C. is formed. Hooker, as captain, soon finds out that cricket teams weren't built in a day: some players squabble, some can't catch, and some have tantrums and go home at half-time! So will Glory Gardens go all out for victory . . . or will they be out for a duck?

It really doesn't look like being Hooker's season. Not only does he spend the first match of the league suffering a dropped-catch jinx but now there' civil war in the team over the selections. Sometimes captaining the GLORY GARDENS Cricket Team isn't the fun you might think. It's not the matches that prove the most trouble for poor Hooker - it's the infighting. He has one solution that might work. but making Ohbert captain in his place? That's not strategy - that's suicide.

When the Glory Gardens team discover that their ground has been sold to build a new hotel they decide to return to their roots and play the season's league games on Glory Gardens recreation ground. But the pitch is far from ideal and several players are hurt batting on such a terrible wicket. With the team losing matches, Hooker losing his form and the injuries mounting Clive, Matthew and Azzie are threatening to leave Glory Gardens to play for another team. Can Jo convince them to stay, and can the new captain, Erica, put together a side capable of beating their old enemy, Wyckham Wanderers, and maintaining their league title?

The team's on tour and anything that can go wrong. . . will! Bob Cattell's cricketing capers are enough to keep any fan happy for\hours - even OUT of season! A cricketing tour of the sunny Caribbean is the perfect combo for the Glory Gardens team. But with the cricket hard and fast, true West Indian-style, the red-hot heat AND certain members of the team treating it as a non-stop food fest. . . it looks like this time the team might have bitten off more than they can chew!