Cricinfo Facelift

I was delighted to come across a scene of early Aboriginal cricket in western Victoria. The first Australian cricket team to tour England was an Aboriginal team and David Metzenthen's Wildlight (Penguin) portrays the talents of a number of the standout players. His book does a great deal besides but this was an important moment of cooperation at a time when violence against Aboriginal communities was common. For a fuller coverage of early Aboriginal cricket, see John Mulvaney's Cricket Walkabout (MUP). Wildlight won the 2003 Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Young Adult Literature.

Hi
I wrote the book Toby Jones and the Magic Cricket Almanack, with Brett Lee, and would like to thank Judith Ridge for mentioning the book. It's the first of a series of three books, the next two due out in April 2004 then April 2005. There's plenty in it, hopefully for both the reader not so familiar with cricket and the cricket fan - tips, descriptions, scores, rules, interviews, trivia snippets etc. But, perhaps most importantly, a good story about a boy (Toby) who discovers that he can travel back in time to see cricket matches from the past. I do hope people everywhere get the opportunity to read it. (So says the author!!)
Thanks - and well done England in the Rugby World Cup - awesome game!
Michael Panckridge

There are a few Australia children's books that feature cricket; there's Ruth Starke's "Nips XI" about a group of non-Anglo kids who decide to form a cricket team. There's also a sequel, "Nips go National". Recently released was the first in a new series, "Toby and the Magic Cricket Almanack", by Michael Panckridge with Breet Lee, Australian test cricketer, advising. Not being a cricket fan (although I'm considering educating myself this summer!) I can't vouch for their authenticity, but they have been popular books here.

Thomas Bloor's latest novel, 'Blood Willow', has a darkly amusing take on cricket.