In a Spin (Nice Garry, #2)

By Michael Wagner, Nathan Lyon and Dave Williams

Inspired by the talent and passion Australian Test cricketing great Nathan Lyon has for the game, this is the story of an ordinary kid with an extraordinary gift.

'Watch out, Garry!'

Garry Keenan is the most exciting new cricketer to play for the Youngstown Under-16s in years. But can a talented ten-year-old off-spinner help his team take on the most feared XI in the competition?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Oct 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781460714447

Michael Wagner

Michael Wagner is the author of more than 80 books for children including the much-loved Maxx Rumble series, the CBCA Notable picture books Why I Love Footy, Why I Love Summer and Bear Make Den (which he co-authored with Jane Godwin) and the So Wrong series which was shortlisted for multiple children's choice awards in 2019 and 2020.

Book preview

Dedication

The Nice Garry books are dedicated

to young cricketers of all abilities.

Love and enjoy the great game

of cricket as I do. Happy reading!

— Nathan Lyon

For Eddie, with love, from Pa.

— Michael Wagner

Contents

Dedication

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

About the Authors

Copyright

CENTRAL DISTRICTS CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Under-16s

Round 2:

Falcons Nest v Youngstown Yabbies

Venue:

Diggers Oval, Ranger Drive, Falcons Nest

Saturday, 9.00 AM–12.00 PM

the Youngstown Yabbies

the Keenan family

1

Zooming along the highway in the back seat of Nan’s ute, Garry leans forward to look at the clock on the dashboard.

7.25 AM

‘Are we still on time?’ he asks Nan and Mum who are sitting in the front seats. ‘I really don’t want to be late.’

Mum points at the GPS and says, ‘We’re ten minutes early, darling.’

Garry relaxes back in his seat, resting his elbow on his cricket bag.

‘In that case,’ says Nan, patting the steering wheel with an open palm, ‘let’s stop for a coffee.’

‘Can we not, please, Nan?’ says Garry.

‘Let’s just get Garry to the ground on time,’ says Mum. ‘We can grab a latte straight after that.’

Nan drives for a moment, then says, ‘I could really use a pick-me-up. I get kind of headachy if I don’t have my morning coffee.’

‘Please, Nan,’ says Garry. ‘Right now I’m feeling nervited about the game, but if we start running late, I’ll just get stressed.’

‘Nervited?’ echoes Nan.

‘Half-nervous . . . half-excited,’ Mum explains. ‘Nerv-ited.’

‘Ah, nervited,’ repeats Nan, screwing up her face. She slaps the steering wheel again and says, ‘In that case, I’m feeling thesperate.’

‘Thesperate?’ repeats Mum.

‘Half-thirsty and half-desperate,’ says Nan. ‘For a coffee, that is. Thesperate. Yep, that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now.’

‘Can we just get there, Nan?’ pleads Garry, squinting into the morning sun.

It takes an hour and ten minutes to drive from Youngstown to Falcons Nest, where game two of the under-16s season is being played. Nan offered to drive because she has the biggest, most comfortable car.

Despite the unfortunate way last week’s game ended, Garry is looking forward to today. The run-out that cost the game is in the past now, and Garry’s big brother, Jamie, spent most of the week teaching Garry every little thing he knows about running between the wickets.

He taught Garry to use one of just three words when he’s deciding whether or not to run: yes, no or wait.

Yes means there’s definitely a run. No means there’s no chance of a run. And wait means there might be a run, so get ready, but don’t take off just yet.

Jamie also taught Garry that the decision to run is made by the batter if the ball is hit in front of the wicket, and the non-striker if it’s hit behind the wicket.

‘It’s whoever’s got the best view of the ball,’ said Jamie. ‘That’s who does the calling.’

They practised every chance they could get:

in the driveway

in the street with their friends

in the nets at Jamie’s high school

and in the backyard, using fielders made out of an old mattress leaning up against the side fence, bins, an upturned wheelbarrow and a stack of old car tyres.

‘Keep your head down when you’re running,’ Jamie told Garry. ‘Run the first single hard. But don’t race way past the crease. Just get to the crease and stop. And ground your bat as you reach the other end – slide it along the ground in front of you until it’s safely over the crease. And, whatever you do, never—’

‘Run on a misfield,’ said Garry. ‘I know, I know.’

‘Unless it’s a really, really bad misfield,’ said Jamie. ‘But that’s rare, so don’t take a chance. It’s not worth risking your wicket for one run.’

Having practised like crazy, Garry’s feeling confident about calling and running between the wickets. And he’s also feeling confident about bowling.

But there always seems to be a few nerves before a game. Maybe because you