England hosts the World Cup finals - and Sherwood Strikers provide the home squad with five players, including midfielder Thomas Headley. But the national coach is under a cloud, the team is no happy family and the opposition is the world's best. They say that England likes to win through from an underdog position - but can it really be done? In the high-pressure chamber that is Wembley, Thomas Headley faces the toughest test of his career.

The mysterious obituary of a woman cricketer in Auckland. A young Australian killer under siege by the police. Sherlock Holmes's extraordinary day at the Oval. These and other stories (eleven of them plus a sub) provide more twists and turns than a thrilling test match. Bob Cattell's second collection of short stories once again takes the reader on a world tour. Linked by the theme of cricket, each tale is shot through with wit, humour and drama.

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?

Hooker's having a bad season. He's cursed by the dropped-catch jinx and now, as captain, has to calm the battles that are brewing within the team. It seems his only option is to let Ohbert be captain, but it could all turn out HORRIBLY wrong!

The Glory Gardens XI are now in the North Country Under Thirteen League, and the pressures of being captain are starting to mount on Hooker.

No one takes much notice of Ohbert Bennett when he creates a Glory Gardens website, but Ohbert has a mission - to make Glory Gardens the most famous junior club in the world. He sends out a challenge to all junior sides to beat 'the reigning world champions'. The first the other players know about it is when the top young Australian club side, Woolagong C.C., arrive in England to take up the challenge. A five-game series - dubbed the Junior Ashes - is set up around the country and with the press and public following the action the pressure is certainly on. With the series tied two - two, the final game at Trent Bridge attracts huge crowds and the big question on everyone's lips is - will the Glory Gardens XI win Ohbert's Ashes?

Hooker, Cal, Azzie, Erica and the rest are all big cricket fans, but they've never formed a proper cricket team, until their games teacher persuades them, and the Glory Garden XI is born.