Still Getting In

By Pearce Pearson

This book introduces Sam Richards, a nationalized former England cricketer, who embarks on a broadcasting career in radio with the BBC.

On an eventful tour to the Caribbean covering the series against the West Indies, he finds himself involved in two murder investigations, the activities of a criminal organisation and illegal cricket match fixes.

Along the way he enjoys the interest of cricket groupies and reinvigorates his rivalry with a former adversary and now TV pundit Edward Purcell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pearce Pearson
• Release date: Jan 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311702449

Book preview

Prologue: Christchurch New Zealand

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29 Antigua

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Prologue: Christchurch New Zealand

The Cook brothers were hardly hiding their identities being dressed in heavily branded designer blue jeans, black New Zealand cricket polo shirts, Ray Ban Aviators and their black, New Zealand peaked caps. They were after their brown paper envelopes which would be filled with the agreed $50k. They had already made arrangements for the next fix and were very comfortable with their joint decision to supplement their legitimate earnings by working for a match fixer.

They strode into the showroom of the Predator equipment factory and told the assistant they were there to see Mark Tatchell as arranged. He came out of his office on the mezzanine floor above and invited the brothers up to join him. The setup was perfect, the fixes could be discussed in privacy and any money that needed to change hands could be hidden in with kit. The brothers had been signed up to Predator for the last 3 seasons so nothing looked suspicious. The spotlight for corruption was pointed at the sub-continent and that suited them just fine.

Mark shut the door behind them and once they were settled into his expertly sound insulated office said, The money is in the tee-shirts in these 2 bags. The scam went perfectly again and no-one suspects foul play. How did things go for you two?

The eldest brother John replied, It was OK on the batting side I just had to miss out on a few balls to make sure we wouldn't go over the first 2 limits. His kid brother Chris added, I just had to bowl short of a length for a few overs to help the Sri Lankans whilst the new ball was swinging. It was easy for me.

Mark re-confirmed to them the arrangement that they had already agreed in principle, So you play normally, and hopefully well, for the next month or so and then we reconvene to plan the next sting. I'll let you know the match and our tactics and I'll bring you another proposal which is likely be along the same lines to what has worked so well already, OK? Let's wait and see who wants to play most the syndicates or the bookies.

Both of the brothers nodded their agreement and then picked up the shirts. Mark took them downstairs and quickly showed the boys the new Predator Sting batting range the company would be launching later that year before they left.

Chapter 1

It was my first trip to the Caribbean for 8 years and my first as a non cricket player. My name is Sam Richards and I played for the England cricket team for 4 years in the late 1990s.

I was really looking forward to experiencing the islands as on previous trips I was so absorbed by cricket, the trips could really have been anywhere. Back then I was preoccupied with thoughts about my own form, the form of my team and more critically that of the opposition. I was often told that I came across as self-assured and relaxed which always makes me laugh as it is and was a long way from the truth. I had to work hard to get the most out of my career and fought nerves that often threatened to interfere with my ability to perform. That was not to say I was a model professional as I had my fair share of disagreements with the various team managers about curfews and extracurricular relaxation.

I never thought that I would become a pundit as I always despised them when I was a player. The players all generally thought that the ex-players that had become so called media experts were generally large egoed know it alls that were never as good as they thought they were - I shared that view. For the large part they had never been able to do what they often preached needed to be done. I vowed to break this mould but at the back of my mind worried it was an inevitable consequence of assessing matches and performances. However, I always try my best to be fair and honest and work to the premise that I would never say anything on air I could not say to the players face to face.

My playing career saw me work my way up to the top slowly through ever improving performances at the less fashionable clubs. I was not from the preferred sources of either the upper class prep and then public schools or from the financially strong league clubs and then fashionable bigger county sides. I left Australia when I was 18 to join a club in Coventry playing in the Birmingham league. I had a couple of reasons for leaving Australia, I was bored and fed up living at home and had a big falling out with the Perth's cricket coach. Coventry and North Warwick Cricket Club gave me lodgings and paid me a few quid to help coach the kids and to help the groundsman. I slowly got noticed by the county teams through accumulating lots of runs. It was a great cricket apprenticeship as it got me used to having to deliver, the star overseas player that got paid needed to do better than the other local lads or there was a problem. I got my first county contract for Worcestershire and played for them and Northamptonshire before breaking into the England team, once I had got qualification. I loved to upset the odds and throughout my career I had helped the underdogs to win. This record had not endeared me to the establishment but they eventually realised that they needed my talents and winning mentality. I still carry some resentment towards those others who have things easier because of their backgrounds as they still get more opportunities than their talents and attitude deserved.

The main reason I started to work for the BBC's cricket programming was I had been overlooked by Sky and had got fed up with continually working abroad. I knew that if I could work for the BBC it would give me the disciplines of a regular work routine and it had the potential to last indefinitely as they used many old boys well past normal retirement age. My previous TV work abroad was haphazard ranging from covering Test Matches in New Zealand to T20 matches in Australia. They seemed to appreciate the different perspective I could provide being outside of their national setups. My record as a player also stood scrutiny and that gave me and my views a credibility that meant I had been able to find work and gain valuable experience. Whilst I enjoyed this work I was out of England a lot and consequently had great difficulty in holding down any meaningful relationships. I was also almost broke as whilst I was away I seemed to spend heavily to alleviate boredom. This was unsustainable as my divorce had put a big dent in my savings and continued to be drain in child support commitments for my two beautiful kids. Although I just passed my 45th birthday the separation seemed to have dumped me back into the lifestyle of a 20 something traveller. I needed the stable job at the BBC and to settle down properly, to put some roots down and to start feeling that I properly belonged somewhere.

Originally when I stopped playing I had dismissed radio as a media to work in as it seemed very old fashioned but since I was given the chance to cover the last domestic season I had grown to appreciate what the broadcast team did. It was easy to see the hierarchy of broadcasters by what matches they cover and whether or not they travel abroad to cover the tours. All the players at the end of their careers are desperate to get the TV jobs and they are definitely the best paid with the best perks: largest studios, best technology, generous expense accounts, 1st class travel and the best hotels. But I soon realised that the radio guys had the better gig as they got to describe the action ball by ball and interpret the matches for listeners who couldn't justify the high satellite TV subscriptions.

I had started doing media work towards the back end of my playing career with the England team and had initially got a thrill from being seen or heard. I did always feel that the doors at Sky were closed on me not because I wasn't good in front of the camera or because the public didn't like me but because I was still not fully integrated into the English cricket establishment. Sky couldn't care less but I was sure one or two of their other presenters black balled me. Edward Purcell was no doubt one, we never hit off as opponents or even team-mates and he was now their main cricket lead.

I knew my reputation as a player said I was not a team man and that I had a confrontational approach, I had to convince everyone including myself that as a BBC correspondent this had changed. The BBC were brave to give me a chance and I was not going to let them down and thankfully I successfully demonstrated that I was serious about working in radio and had some aptitude for commentary. I was delighted to be asked to join the team to cover the England tour of the Caribbean but I was worried that there would also be plenty of temptations for me to mess up the opportunity. In my tours as a player there were always lots of distractions not least the girls in the exotic nightclubs and I would now be joining up with a possy of womanising egotists - not to mention the players.

Chapter 2

I packed for myself for the first time in a long time and wondered what I was going to forget. I knew I was entering the next phase of a life that until recently had followed a course that I hadn't really had to give much thought to.

The flight had run to schedule and whilst I had not been bothered by fans who wanted photographs or signatures I could not stop myself from observing several passengers whispering to their spouses, kids or mates revealing to me that I had been recognised. I still find the attention unsettling and struggle to relax when I am out in public. I know I am a pretty minor celebrity, I feel sorry for bigger celebrities who must find it impossible to lead normal lives.

I arrived at Kings Beach 5 Star Luxury Hotel in Barbados and was told it was just a short 20 minute drive from there to get over to the Kensington Oval where the 1st Test was to be played. I was greeted at the Reception by the BBC's Broadcasting Assistant, Beverly Hansen. Beverly was a late twenties suntanned blond who clearly had ambitions for a higher public profile. I was unsettled by her warm welcome and her arrangements to meet up later that evening where she would be hosting the first of what would be many social gatherings of the BBC broadcasting team. This was to be a smart casual affair which meant I was unsure what to wear, Beverley advised me to wear a smile and be prepared to relax and enjoy meeting the team who she said were looking forward to working with me. I knew there were a lot of ex-players who were very jealous that I had been able to get this great opportunity. I knew they would be waiting for me to mess up and be ready to step in and replace me at the first opportunity.

I unpacked my bags, hanging everything up which was a novelty as I usually just picked whatever I needed straight from my travel bags, and resisted the temptation to raid the mini bar. I had a couple of hours to kill so I walked the hotel checking out the facilities. There was a well-stocked gym, a big pool, 2 restaurants and 3 bars - I felt satisfied I would be comfortable there for the week ahead. Back in my room I wondered what to do, these were unusual times for me with no team mates or family to occupy me. I decided, as a mature man, I ought to be able to fill my time better than I had been of late and tried to settle down and read from the new tablet I bought for these type of occasions. I had never read much at that point in my life and had always harboured the belief that it was nerdy and that I did not have the patience for it. I persevered and started to read the latest Jo Nesbo which I downloaded for the flight but never got to. It had been on the bestseller list and I had read somewhere that Jo was an ex-musician, ex-city trader and seemed to have a talent for whatever he turned his hand to. I wondered the fairness, how could some people be so blessed. I told myself I ought to be thankful myself having done what so many others could only dream of. I lasted just 10 minutes before my mind started to drift and looking at the screen I realised my eyes may have moved but I hadn't taken in what Harry Hole had been doing. I re-read. I had to stop again as my mind returned to Jenny and the kids, as it frequently did.

As far as I knew she had left me because I was self-centred and put my career and myself first but I never thought she would leave and worst of all take the kids from me. True I never really helped around the house or with much of the tough parenting - the enforcement of rules and ensuring consistency with both kids. That was her area. I know I was too soft to both and found discipline a problem. I had largely left their schooling choices to Jenny and had always been happy for her to choose and arrange their holidays. I should have been more involved and not been so lazy or self-absorbed. Nevertheless, I didn't feel these were reasons enough for divorce and as just a few months after I moved out she had started a new relationship - I suspected this had been going on for some time.

In the aftermath of the separation I thought I started to realise I had always been a compromise for Jenny who really loved the easy charm and effortless style of the privileged types who had been born into money with whom she had grown up. The novelty of my brash and straightforward no nonsense style had worn off I also know she missed the attention we both got when I was higher profile.

I had to move on there was no other choice.

I still felt betrayed by her and robbed, mostly of the family life I had expected and looked forward to but also financially, she had got the house, the kids and most of the savings built from my income. I couldn't help thinking that the divorce laws were a nonsense, it was not as if I was going to deprive my own children. I had nagging doubts about how Jenny was using the maintenance payments and how much of it Tom & Suzzie actually got to see.

Chapter 3

Beverley met me at Kings Beach's Cocktail Bar at 7.15 she looked eye catching in a dress that left little to the imagination and