Representative Clash

by Michael Panckridge

  ‘He’s hit 50 runs in 11 balls,’ Coach Malcolm gasped.

  ‘He’s got something to prove today,’ Mr Price affirmed.

  ‘Well, I think he might have done that. Is anyone filming this?’ Coach Malcolm shouted out.

  Tommy struck seven sixes and 11 fours before he was called to retire on 101 not out.

  ‘It’s my bat,’ he said proudly, as players gathered around to pat him on the back and shake his hand. ‘It’s magic.’

  ‘Tommy, please,’ Mr Price said, shaking his head. ‘Your bat is not magic, it’s you.’

  ‘Nah, Mr Price, it’s definitely magic.’ Mr Price sighed, but there was a smile on his face. ‘Can I keep the pads on?’ Tommy asked Coach Malcolm.

  ‘Why not,’ Coach Malcolm replied. ‘The Country boys will not enjoy seeing you standing there with your pads on, waiting to return to the crease. They won’t want to take any more wickets.’

  The Hobart City team amassed a whop-ping 211 runs. Tommy didn’t get to bat again. The Country team made a good fist of the run chase but were always going to struggle, eventually going down by 77 runs. Tommy and his City team had won the right to play in the Adelbart Clash.

  ‘Magic bat, I overheard you say,’ a man with a pad and pencil said, approaching Tommy.

  ‘Yeah,’ Tommy said with surprise, holding the bat in the air.

  ‘Hold it right there,’ the reporter demanded, reaching for his camera.

  ‘Tommy, come along,’ Mr Price called. But the photo had been taken.

  Friday morning

  ‘TOMMY’S MAGIC CENTURY’, read the headline in the Hobart Mercury the following day. Tommy and his bat were the talk of the town. Three different reporters arrived at the school during the day as well as a TV crew, all demanding an interview with the amazing Tommy.

  Even though Tommy was loving all the attention he was getting at school, he was keen to see Molly and the others and find out what had really happened to Ralph.

  ‘Well?’ he asked, halfway through lunch, having gathered them together near the oval.

  Molly’s personality had changed quickly and she seemed to be enjoying hanging out with her new friends.

  ‘I guess I should start from the beginning. Remember the fire on the last day of last term?’ Molly asked.

  ‘Of course, how could we forget,’ Lazarus replied.

  There had been a fire in the old wooden shelter shed down behind the toilet block. It spread fast. The fire brigade had been called but they weren’t able to save the shed. Luckily, no one had been hurt and no other buildings had been damaged. Although the fire was suspicious, no one had been caught.

  ‘Yeah, well I made a phone call to Ralph the night before the City versus Country game. Told him I had proof he lit the fire. Told him I’d be calling the police.’

  ‘Wow. The police!’ Ali gasped. ‘For real?’

  ‘For real.’

  ‘And you know for a fact that Ralph lit the fire?’ Lazarus asked, eyes wide.

  Molly shook her head. ‘Got no idea at all.’

  ‘But –’

  Lazarus laughed suddenly, slapping his thigh. ‘Oh, neat!’

  ‘Stop, I don’t get it,’ Tommy cried.

  ‘So smart,’ Lazarus said, shaking his head. He turned to Tommy. ‘So, Molly thinks Ralph lit that fire, but has no proof. She rings him up, and calls his bluff, saying she knows for a fact that he did light it. Ralph freaks out. Offers to let Tommy play in the game if Molly promises not to tell the police or anyone else. Am I right, Molly?’

  ‘That’s about it. I was just relieved he was going to back down and let Tommy play.’ Molly said, nodding.

  ‘So, Ralph did light that fire,’ Ali said.

  Molly shrugged. ‘I’m not totally sure.’

  ‘Ralph will be angry we’ve got one over on him,’ Tommy said nervously.

  ‘You think he’ll do something?’ Ali asked.

  Lazarus nodded. ‘He’s definitely the sort of kid who’ll want to have the last laugh.’

  ‘Wait, that’s not the end of my story. I don’t think Ralph will be bothering you any time soon. Something else has happened,’ Molly said.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Ali asked.

  The group huddled together as Molly explained. ‘Mrs Lehmann asked to see me earlier about the fire alarm that went off the other day.’

  ‘When Ralph stole my bat?’ Tommy asked.

  ‘Yep. I was the one who set off the alarm. Ralph told me to do it so he could steal your bat while everyone was lining up for the drill,’ Molly said, staring at her feet. ‘I knew it was a horrible thing to do and I felt awful. I just didn’t know how to confess.’

  ‘We know, Molly, but you made things right in the end,’ Ali said, putting an arm around Molly’s shoulders.

  ‘Mrs Lehmann found out I set off the alarm. She wanted to know why I would do such a thing, so I had to tell her the whole story.’ Molly sighed as she continued. ‘When she realised the fire drill, Ralph and your stolen bat were all connected she was furious. She called Ralph to her office and made me wait outside. I heard everything. Ralph has been suspended from Mount Lofty for a whole week.’

  ‘Woah!’ They all gasped.

  ‘Did you tell Mrs Lehmann what you think about Ralph and the fire last term?’ Lazarus asked.

  ‘I thought about it, but I don’t know for sure and Ralph has got his punishment now. He dropped out of the Clash game and he’s been suspended. The main thing is Tommy got his bat back and has his rightful spot on the Hobart City team,’ Molly said finally.

  The whole group sat in silence for a moment, taking in all the information Molly had just told them.

  ‘But I don’t get it, Molly,’ Tommy said. ‘Why did you all of a sudden want to help me?’

  Molly paused for a moment. ‘I’d just had enough of Ralph. I wasn’t his friend, I was just someone he could push around and I knew he would get me in a lot of trouble eventually. And you guys, I dunno, you just seem to have so much fun. I guess it just got me thinking a bit.’

  ‘Well, all I can say is, I’m glad you’ve seen the light, Molly,’ Lazarus said.

  Molly smiled shyly. ‘Yeah, me too.’

  The next week passed by in a blur with preparations for the Adelbart Clash. As soon as Tommy finished school he was off to cricket practice, or interviews and photo shoots.

  While it was good to not have to face up to Ralph, Tommy worried he would be planning some sort of revenge on his return. But there was nothing he could do about that so instead of worrying, he spent the next few days focusing on getting his parents, along with Ali and her mum and dad, to organise the delivery of 15 wheelchairs to Mount Lofty next Tuesday for a game of wheelchair cricket. It would be a surprise for Lazarus and his family. Mr Price and Miss Byrne were keen to help too.

  With the Adelbart Clash taking place next Wednesday afternoon, a number of children had already indicated that they wouldn’t be attending school that day. Mrs Lehmann became the most popular principal in Mount Lofty history when she decided to make school optional for students from 12 pm onwards that day, though parents had to write a letter to let the school know.

  The Hobart press were promoting the day as the first triple-header in the history of Big Bash League cricket. Almost nine hours of non-stop cricket action, starting with the first ever Adelbart Clash, featuring some of the most amazing young cricket talent from Tasmania and South Australia.

  Tuesday morning

  ‘Tommy, this is amazing,’ Lazarus said, wheeling himself into position near the back of the gym.

  Lazarus had been giving the other kids, and even some of the teachers, plenty of tips about getting around in the most efficient manner in their wheelchairs. It was proving a challenge for most.

  Bowling could be an overarm delivery or a throw. Mr Price had found some lighter bats which made it a little easier to swing. To score a run, you had to hit the ball then drop the bat and wheel yourself up to the other end of the pitch. Fielding was the ha
rdest for many as it took such a long time to wheel yourself to the ball then pick it up and throw it back to the bowler.

  ‘So, where’s Ralph?’ Tommy asked, looking around. Ralph had been keeping a very low profile since his suspension last week, but he’d suddenly vanished from the gym.

  ‘Don’t worry, Tommy,’ Ali said. ‘We’ve got things covered.’

  ‘What do you mean, covered?’ Tommy asked, just as a ball was smashed in his direction. He almost fell out of his chair as he tried to swing around to chase it. He never heard Ali’s answer.

  Ralph didn’t appear for the rest of the afternoon.

  ‘Maybe he just didn’t like wheelchair cricket,’ Ali said, standing up and stretching.

  ‘Well, I don’t like this,’ Tommy grumbled. ‘I know Ralph.’ Without waiting for a reply, Tommy ducked out of the gym. He knew, without even quite knowing why, that his bag with his precious bat in it would be gone from the spot he’d left it behind the office door.

  ‘Mrs Craig? My cricket bag?’ Tommy cried at the school receptionist, glancing around the office.

  ‘Hello Tommy. Yes, I thought you must have grabbed it. You know, for the photo shoot coming up.’ She noticed the grimace of anguish on Tommy’s face. ‘Oh don’t worry, pet. It’ll turn up. Things always do.’

  But Tommy wasn’t listening. He burst out of the office, looking left, then right, before barging through the main glass door. A row of wheelie bins stood lined up on the pavement outside the front of the school.

  ‘I like watching the garbage truck crush and smash all the stuff that gets dumped,’ a voice said. Tommy spun around. Ralph was sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree.

  ‘Ralph? Where’s my bat?’ Tommy shouted, rushing over to him, his fists clenched.

  ‘Right now, I’d say it –’

  ‘Is right here,’ another voice said. It was Ali. Tommy couldn’t believe his eyes. In her hands was his precious, magical bat.

  Taking a deep breath, Tommy said, ‘Sorry, you were saying?’

  For a moment Ralph appeared completely bewildered, but he recovered quickly. Shrugging, he said, ‘Well, you got your answer.’

  ‘Thing is,’ Ali continued, turning on Ralph. ‘Where’s your bat?’

  Ralph went pale as the blood drained from his face.

  ‘No way. M-my bat’s at home.’ But Ralph’s voice wasn’t sounding confident.

  ‘Well, that’s okay then. Nothing to worry about,’ Ali said breezily, turning away.

  ‘Ali, what’s going on?’ Tommy asked, catching up to her.

  ‘We were all a bit worried, to be honest. We knew Ralph would try something again and let’s face it, he’s not the brightest bulb in the box. It was obvious he’d go after your bat again. So we did a little switcharoo.’

  ‘You swapped my bat for Ralph’s?’ Tommy asked with surprise.

  ‘Well, actually no. We swapped it for an old, decrepit bat that we found at the back of the storeroom, but we don’t need to tell Ralph that. Let him have another hour of worry before he gets home to find out that his bat hasn’t been crushed by the dump truck, yeah?’

  Tommy nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

  Wednesday afternoon

  It was a beautiful sunny day with a sell-out crowd for the triple-header at Bellerive. Tommy arrived at the ground a few hours before the start of the Adelbart Clash and there were already plenty of people sitting in the stands and on the grassy banks.

  ‘Good luck, Tommy,’ his dad said, shaking his hand.

  ‘We’re so proud of you, dear,’ his mum added, giving him a hug.

  ‘Yeah, thanks for the half day off school, bro,’ Mel said, giving him a friendly punch.

  The next few hours were a blurry haze of warm-ups, throw downs in the nets, signing a whole stack of mini cricket bats and finally a pre-game meeting with Coach Malcolm.

  ‘We’re going to go onto the ground now for a final warm-up,’ Coach Malcolm said.

  The team was welcomed by a loud roar of approval as they jogged onto the ground.

  Will, the Hobart captain, had lost the toss so the locals would be fielding first.

  ‘Can I take slips?’ Tommy asked Will as they lined up for a fielding drill.

  ‘Yeah, no worries, Tommy. That’s a good plan.’

  After a ten minute warm-up, the players jogged off the ground again.

  ‘Righto, people. This is the big one,’ Coach Malcolm said, rubbing his hands together. ‘I just want to hear lots of talk and see lots of backing up. Take control of the game right from the get-go, okay? And no backchat to the umpires or the opposition, got it?’

  ‘Got it,’ the players replied.

  Each player was individually introduced over the loudspeaker as they entered the arena and Tommy noticed that they were also appearing on the big screens.

  Tommy walked to his position at first slip. He knew that as long as the bowling was on top, Will would keep a slip in place. Having a slip fielder sent a message to the opposition that the fielding team was in charge, and they didn’t need the extra player out in the deep somewhere, protecting the boundaries.

  It didn’t take long for Tommy to realise that his time in slips wouldn’t last long. The blue-shirted Adelaide batters were thrashing the ball to all parts of the ground, and sometimes clearing it. After four overs, they had raced along to 43 runs without looking like losing a wicket.

  ‘Tommy, in close on the off side,’ Will called.

  At least it’s not the outfield, Tommy thought, crouching in his new position, although now he was right in the firing line of a full-blooded off drive.

  For a moment, it looked like the change had worked for the Hobart team. The Adelaide opener nudged the first two balls back down the pitch. But he strode down the wicket to meet the next delivery on the full, blasting it in Tommy’s direction.

  Tommy barely had time to turn before the ball cannoned into his shoulder, ballooning into the air.

  ‘Tommy!’ Amber shrieked. ‘Catch it!’

  Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Tommy glanced left, then right and stumbled almost tripping, before catching sight of the ball slowly falling to the ground. Lunging forwards, Tommy reached out a hand, grazing his arm as it brushed against the dry, cracked surface of the pitch.

  ‘Yes!’ Will cried, rushing in to hug Tommy.

  ‘Wow, great catch, Tommy,’ Amber said, laughing and slapping him on the back.

  ‘Not there.’ Tommy groaned, wincing.

  His back ached and his arm felt bruised but he’d taken the catch. The players turned to the scoreboard to watch the replay.

  Tommy walked off to get his shoulder checked and his arm bandaged, missing the next three overs of the game. Although the wicket had slowed the Adelaide team’s momentum, they still managed to knock up 153 runs.

  ‘Tommy, you’re opening,’ Will said, as the team walked off the field. ‘Might as well put our best batter in first.’

  Tommy felt the familiar flurry of nerves and excitement as the news sunk in.

  Wednesday afternoon

  Tommy had never played in front of so many people before. The clapping and cheering that greeted the two openers sent yet another jolt of nervous energy through his body.

  ‘You okay to face?’ Amber asked. ‘I wouldn’t mind having a look from the other end.’

  ‘Yeah, sure,’ Tommy replied.

  ‘Get your eye in, yeah? Couple of sighters, okay?’

  ‘For sure, Amber.’

  The first ball sailed straight back over the bowler’s head, crashing into an eating area and landing smack bang on someone’s lunch. Food and drink went everywhere as people jumped out of their seats.

  ‘Tommy, forget that bit about getting your eye in, okay?’ Amber said, touching Tommy’s batting glove with her own.

  ‘Yeah, okay, Amber, will do.’

  Seconds later and the ball was sailing back to the restaurant. This time the patrons were ready, a bald man with a long beard nabbing
the catch, to the delight of the crowd.

  ‘Did you know he was this good?’ Tommy’s mum asked.

  Tommy’s dad grinned. ‘I had an inkling.’

  ‘Blimey, the lad sure can strike a ball. Told you his career was in cricket and not woodchopping.’ Grandpa King chuckled.

  Even Mel had put her phone away and was grinning with pride. ‘That’s my brother,’ she said, shaking her head in wonder as she turned to watch yet another replay on the big scoreboard.

  ‘And that’s our best friend,’ Ali said, turning to Lazarus. ‘Right, Laz?’

  ‘You bet,’ Lazarus affirmed.

  And then, disaster.

  Tommy wasn’t sure how it happened. One moment, he was lining up to hit the next delivery over the ropes for another six, the next he was listening with a sickening feeling of dread and shock to the sound of the ball crashing into the stumps. It was a perfectly executed slower ball and Tommy had been completely fooled. There was a moment of stunned silence. Even the fielders had frozen, disbelief etched on their faces. Then a few Adelaide supporters in the crowd started cheering and the moment of shock passed.

  Tommy walked slowly from the field. He didn’t look up until he’d arrived near the gate and got a surprise when he saw who was standing there holding it open for him.

  ‘Hey, you’re going to play for the ’Canes one day, probably for Australia too. Bad luck, okay. And, Tommy, I’m sorry. For everything.’

  Tommy stared into Ralph’s eyes then took the hand that he offered. ‘Thanks, I guess. I have to ask though, what did I do to deserve this? Why did you have it in for me?’

  Ralph shook his head. ‘You’ve always been a better cricketer than me. Better batter, anyway. I was jealous. It was my way of getting one back at you. I realise now that it was wrong and really dumb. Anyway, I just hope you can accept my apology and maybe one day forgive me.’ Ralph slouched away before Tommy could reply.

  Tommy continued up the steps but again had to pause.

  ‘Hey, bad luck, Tommy. You’ll smash a hundred next time,’ Molly said.

  ‘You think? Tommy asked.