by Brett Lee
‘Hey, that’s a good idea,’ Georgie said.
‘Smale didn’t want to look at it at first,’ Ally continued, ‘but when he read how much money my “Dad” was offering, he decided it was okay for me to go—as long as I stayed in the background and didn’t bug him.
‘Then he got us all together, sitting on a big couch. There were two other men there, as well as a lady. Smale had this big screen set up, and he gave a speech, saying why we were all there. He’d asked one of the guys, Rick, along because he was a businessman; the other guy, Colin, because he’d worked in theatre and stuff; and the lady, Davina, because she knew the media.’
‘And what about Mr Walters—Jessica’s dad?’ I asked. ‘Why had he been chosen?’
‘Apparently he’s a really well-known guy in banking. I didn’t really know what Smale was talking about, so I just nodded and played along.
‘Anyway, then he showed a bit of the Tied Test on the big screen. The others didn’t know what was going on, and they were pretty annoyed that he’d got them all there just to show them an old cricket match. That’s when I slipped away to leave you the note—I said I was going to the toilet but I don’t think Smale heard me, because he was too busy trying to calm everyone down.
‘When I got back he asked us all to hold hands while he fiddled around with a Wisden and an old scorecard. It must have been that magic one, Toby, because the next thing I knew we were in Brisbane in 1960.’
‘What happened when you got there?’ Georgie said. ‘How did they all react?’
‘Well, at first they didn’t realise that they’d gone back in time. They thought it was some kind of virtual reality. Then as it started to sink in, the guy called Rick started to freak out—he looked really frightened and turned white. Davina stayed calm, but the other guy, Colin, was so excited, until Smale told him they wouldn’t be staying to watch one of the most famous overs ever played.’
‘I bet he didn’t like that,’ I murmured.
‘Smale tried to tell us all to stay put, but Colin ignored him and ran off into the crowd because he didn’t want to leave. Smale spent about 20 minutes trying to find him, but he’d disappeared.
‘And that was it. The rest of us came back and I got out of there as quickly as I could…Oh, I almost forgot! Toby, you know that Master Blaster thing you guys played down at the shopping centre?’ Ally added, as we reached her front gate.
‘The virtual cricket?’ I said.
‘Yeah, well you were right, Toby. It was there in the clubrooms. I reckon Phillip Smale has bought that too.’
‘Bought or stolen?’ Georgie said, looking at me. ‘And what about Alistair? Have you rung yet?’
‘Yep, I finally got through, but the person who answered said he’s out of town for the next few days and they’re not sure when he’s due back.’
‘So, it’s just as we thought,’ Georgie said. ‘Smale’s going to open up a business.’
‘Yeah, and it looks like he’s gathering a few people around him to help out,’ Ally said.
‘Like that Davina woman?’ Georgie asked.
‘Yep.’
‘But not Colin,’ I muttered.
‘Do you reckon Smale will go back and rescue him?’ Georgie said.
‘He was going to leave Scott, remember?’ I answered. ‘I wouldn’t trust Phillip Smale.’
‘I agree,’ said Ally. ‘We get the scorecard now and we kill this once and for all.’
Georgie and I looked at each other.
‘How long have we got before Colin is in serious trouble?’ I asked.
Georgie looked at her watch. ‘An hour? Hour and a half, tops.’
‘Okay,’ I said, my mind racing. ‘I’m going to get Jim and his car. You two, go home and grab your mobiles, then come back here and let me know what’s happening. Stay down, but watch to see if Colin returns. Keep an eye on the cars, okay?’
‘Have you got yours?’ Ally asked, as I hopped onto my bike.
‘My what?’ I called.
‘Your mobile!’
I pulled it out of my pocket and held it up behind me as I sped off.
Ten minutes later, just as I pulled up in front of Jim’s, it rang.
‘Anything happening?’ I asked.
‘Toby, all the cars have gone and the lights are all out,’ Georgie said. ‘We reckon he’s packed up and gone.’
‘He must have gone home. I’m going to head over there with Jim. We’ve got to nail this. Especially as that guy is stuck in Brisbane and I can’t go back to get him because I’ve been there before.’
‘That’s why we need the scorecard, isn’t it?’ Georgie said.
‘Yep. It’s gonna have to be you, Georgie.’
‘Okay, we’ll meet you over there—’
‘No! You guys stay low. I’ll get back to you.’
‘Hey,’ Georgie cried, sounding annoyed. ‘Since when—’
‘Georgie. Just me and Jim, alright?’ There was a pause. ‘George?’
‘Yeah, fine,’ she mumbled.
Jim was delighted to see me and even more delighted to be getting back into Pixie, which was surprising.
‘I thought you agreed it was a good idea to take a break from all this till the game was over,’ I said, as we reversed out of his garage.
‘Indeed I did, Toby. Indeed I did. But carpe diem, my boy.’
‘Carpe diem?’
‘Seize the day, Toby. Strike while the iron’s hot.’ Jim was raving on but he was genuinely excited. I just hoped not too excited—Jim was having adventures that most people his age wouldn’t want to know about. ‘At least your mind isn’t stuck on the game,’ he added.
That was one good spin on all this, I realised.
As we drove to Smale’s place I outlined the evening’s events.
‘So, this Colin chap is still at large in Brisbane?’ Jim said, frowning.
I nodded.
‘Dear oh dear,’ he murmured, accelerating a little.
‘I bet I know whose car that is,’ I said, pointing to one parked outside Smale’s house as we drew up to the kerb.
‘One of Ally’s travelling partners?’ Jim suggested.
I nodded.
‘I think we should simply take the direct approach, Toby. Straight to the front door.’
I followed a few paces behind Jim as he marched up the path and knocked on the door.
‘Who is it?’ a woman’s voice called, a moment later.
‘Jim Oldfield.’
‘Are you a friend of Phillip’s?’ There was no sign of the front door being opened. Maybe this was Davina. I took out my phone and dialled Ally, moving a few steps away from the house.
‘Ally? What was that Davina lady wearing?’ I whispered into the phone.
‘Um, grey trousers and a white shirt. Why?’
‘There’s a lady in Smale’s house and, hang on…’
Jim was walking back towards me. ‘It appears our friend Phillip is out for the evening,’ he said.
‘I’ll call you back, Ally,’ I said, snapping the phone closed. ‘Now what?’
‘I’m not exactly sure,’ Jim replied.
We both turned at the sound of shouting.
‘Let’s try the back,’ I urged, setting off around the side of the house. ‘The door’s open,’ I whispered to Jim, who arrived a few moments after me. I eased it open further and then we were inside.
Jim put a finger to his lips as we snuck into the kitchen. There were voices coming from the next room—Smale’s and the woman’s.
‘A partnership,’ Smale was pleading. ‘You don’t know how to operate the scorecard anyway,’ he continued. Their voices stopped. Jim and I stepped cautiously back, away from the door. Suddenly it burst open. Phillip Smale stood there, glaring at us.
‘You interfering old man,’ he growled, moving towards Jim. I stepped in front of him, reaching into my pocket at the same time. ‘Get out of my way, you snivelling little boy!’ He pushed me to one side. I opened the phone, carefully felt
for the second number along, and pressed it. It was the autodial number for Ally’s mobile.
‘Davina, call the police,’ Smale shouted through the kitchen door.
‘Yes, do that,’ Jim said. ‘I’m sure they will assist Toby and me to get back what is rightfully ours.’
‘What are you raving on about?’ Smale said.
Jim was standing upright and perfectly at ease beside the table. ‘The scorecard, of course,’ he replied firmly, not taking his eyes off Smale.
My heart was racing, and, I guessed, despite his outward calm, so was Jim’s.
‘Jim, maybe we should just leave,’ I whispered.
‘Not this time, sonny,’ Smale said.
‘Are you a friend of Jessica’s?’ Davina asked, coming to the door, a phone in her hand.
‘Who?’
‘You heard me.’
‘I don’t know any Jessica,’ I said, trying to sound calm.
‘Just ring the bloody police,’ Smale said, his anger rising.
‘I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,’ she replied, eyeing Jim closely. ‘What do you know about this scorecard?’
‘Quite a bit,’ Jim said. ‘It was sent to me, you see—’
‘Don’t listen to this senile old fool,’ Smale hissed, grabbing the phone from her. ‘He’s talking through his hat.’
‘Might I sit down, please?’ Jim asked, pulling out a chair.
‘Of course you may.’ Davina sat down too.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake,’ cried Phillip. ‘Do you want me to do tea and biscuits?’
Jim looked up and smiled sweetly. ‘What a splendid idea, Phillip. It’s just like old times.’
Smale, looking furious, stormed out of the room.
‘Old times?’ Davina asked.
Jim explained his connection with Phillip at the MCC library and how Smale had come to know about the scorecard. Davina, who had formally introduced herself, got up and made us all a drink while Jim continued his story.
‘Jim, perhaps we should go,’ I said to him as he gratefully sipped the tea Davina had given him.
Suddenly the house was plunged into darkness. Jim and I reached out at the same time, grabbing hold of each other. I heard Davina shoot up like a cat and dart into the hallway.
‘Phillip?’ she called.
‘Let’s go, Jim,’ I said, guiding him towards the back door.
‘Toby, we need that scorecard. I feel that now is our best chance.’ His voice was desperate and he seemed to be breathing heavily.
‘Then I’ll go. You head outside and wait in Pixie.’
‘No!’ he said firmly. ‘Come on. This is it.’
So we crept back through the kitchen, groping for the doorway leading to the hall. Then the lights came back on. We searched the house, but there was so sign of Smale.
‘Toby?’ a voice called from outside. It was Georgie.
I ran to the front door and opened it to find Georgie and Ally standing there.
‘Is everything okay?’ Ally asked. ‘We just got this garbled sort of—’
‘Oh, yeah,’ I said, pulling out my mobile and switching it off. ‘Things hotted up in there for a moment so I opened up the line.’
We headed back inside. Davina and Jim were in a small room, obviously Smale’s study, staring at a row of Wisdens.
‘He’s gone,’ Jim sighed, turning as we entered.
‘What the—?’ Davina said, her eyes narrowing.
‘Oh,’ Ally said, giving her a small wave. ‘Hi!’
‘Jessica! So, you two do know each other.’ She looked at me coldly.
I ignored her. ‘Jim, we have another problem,’ I said, turning to him.
‘Oh?’ He picked up a 1960 Wisden from the desk. But as he leafed through it, it dropped onto the desk in front of him, caught the edge and fell to the floor. I couldn’t believe that Jim would drop a book, especially a cricket book—and a Wisden at that.
One moment he was standing there, the next he’d fallen to his knees and his face had gone deathly white.
‘Toby!’ Georgie gasped, rushing forwards.
‘Jim?’ I whispered, panicking, dropping down beside him.
‘Stand back,’ Davina said, crisply. ‘Jessica, call triple zero. You,’ she said, nodding at Georgie, ‘run out and check the house number. Toby, get some water. Quickly!’
As we all left the room my mind was blank. I knew Jim wasn’t well, but his collapse was such a shock.
Georgie was giving Ally the address for the ambulance as I returned with a glass of water.
‘Leave it there,’ Davina said, not turning round. ‘Now off you go.’
‘But I can’t—’
‘I said off you go. I know what I’m doing.’
‘But what’s happened?’ I asked, as I stared at Jim lying on the floor.
‘It’s hard to say. Perhaps he’s had a mild heart attack, or he may just have fainted. His breathing’s quite steady and his pulse is rapid and fluttery but not weak. That’s a good sign. But I suggest you leave now, before the cavalry arrives.’
‘The cavalry?’ Georgie asked from the doorway.
‘I’m expecting the ambulance and the police,’ she said. Gently she settled a cushion beneath Jim’s head.
‘Come on,’ said Ally, glancing at her watch. ‘We’re way over time.’
I walked over to Jim and gave his old hand a squeeze while Davina fussed with something nearby. Suddenly I felt a firm hand grip my wrist; I looked at his face. One eye gleamed and the other winked. I felt another squeeze and then he let go as Davina turned back to him.
I hurried out of the house after Ally and Georgie, telling them that I thought Jim was just fine.
‘What?’ Georgie said.
‘I think he was just making sure we were out of the way when the police came. Smale’s onto us big time.’
‘I’d rather arrive home on my own feet than in the back of a police car,’ Ally said, starting to run.
When Shane Warne claimed the wicket of Marcus Trescothick in the Third Test of the 2005 Ashes series, Warne became the first bowler to take 600 Test wickets. He achieved this remarkable record in his 126th Test match.
19 So Close
Sunday—morning
SUNDAY morning was bright and sunny. I headed back to the Scorpions’ ground, this time in the family car. Jim was right—the distractions of the night before had kept me from worrying about the game. I just hoped that Jim really was okay. What if the wink had just been a blink? No, it can’t have been.
I felt surprisingly fresh as I stroked Mr Pasquali’s practice deliveries neatly back to him.
‘It’s time to play the innings of your life, Toby,’ he said, grinning. ‘I’ll be out there with you, though there’s not much I can do. Good luck and enjoy it.’
Watching Scott Craven warming up was making that very hard to do, but I was determined to stay positive, play my shots and see what happened. Isn’t that what the Aussie team did when it was in a corner? Those players didn’t shrivel up and die; they stayed calm and confident, believing in their ability to get themselves out of strife.
And after four overs my confidence was sky high. I’d played Scott with the full face of the bat, picking off occasional singles and even a four that whistled past point and down to the fence.
‘It’ll come, Scotto,’ the Scorpions players kept calling out.
‘Not if I can help it,’ I muttered under my breath. Every ball was a new challenge. I was doing it for Jim; I was doing it for Dad; I was doing it for Riverwall and my team-mates sitting on the boundary. And I was doing it for myself.
We hadn’t made many runs and we’d lost Cameron and Rahul (who had been promoted in the order ahead of Jimbo), but when Mr Pasquali called for drinks, I finally looked up at the scoreboard.
Jones, 28 not out. Jimbo was on 7 and the overall score was 3 for 62.
‘Job one: make them bat again,’ Jimbo said, taking a drink. ‘Job two: make them worry. It’s you and me, Toby.�
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Scott bowled two more overs after the break, but his pace had dropped. We still played him with respect, but the Scorpions sensed we were playing it safe and waiting for the next bowler. They spread the field out more, but Jimbo and I were able to knock up ones and twos with much more ease.
I looked over at Mr Pasquali at one point. He nodded, gently tapping his temple with one finger. I knew what he meant: play smart and don’t get sucked in and try to score big fours and sixes.
By lunch we’d taken the score along to 3 for 131. The game had changed.
‘Scott will resume after lunch,’ Mr Pasquali said to Jimbo and me while munching on a chicken sandwich. ‘Put that entire morning out of your head and start again. The job is not done, you hear?’
We both nodded.
The rest of the team left us alone—no one wanted to break the spell that had come over the game. Even Jay, usually always on for a chat, kept his distance.
Scott Craven did come back on and he bowled as fast as I’d ever seen him. Jimbo was struck on the helmet when he tried a hook shot, but he stood his ground, hardly flinching. Scott walked up close to him, but Jimbo just turned away to adjust his helmet.
The next ball was in the same spot but this time Jimbo was onto it. He smashed it magnificently over backward square leg. It crashed into a huge gum tree about halfway up the trunk then dropped onto the gravel road beneath, along with a dead branch.
The yelling and cheering from the boundary and the sense of excitement amongst the spectators was in total contrast to the mood on the field. The Scorpions were struggling, and they weren’t used to that. It was the most critical time of the game.
Jimbo and I pressed on, scoring another 44 runs before I got out. It was getting too easy and I lost concentration, lazily wafting my bat at a ball pitched well outside off-stump. It caught the bottom edge and cannoned back into the stumps. I’d made 71—my highest score ever!
Jimbo went on to make 91 but, as in the first innings, our batting performance fell away quickly. We lost our last seven wickets for only about 60 more runs. But we were in with a chance, and when Mr Pasquali told us that the whisper around the ground was that the Scorpions might be ‘chasing the outright’, I felt our chance of success was even greater.
