DEATH BEFORE WICKET - Poisoned Pen Press (UK)

110 Kerry Greenwood
The captain waved an arm and some fielders moved. Then
Kirkpatrick waved, and they moved back. Phryne saw Bretherton
shrug and walk to his own position at mid on, where he could
see the game and not be surprised by any fast deliveries.
‘Never argue with a Glasgow man,’ chuckled Professor Jones.
‘Play,’ called the umpire. The batsmen, who had been
patiently leaning on their bats awaiting the outcome of the
argument, straightened. Ottery took block.
The ball looped in, quite slowly, and after examining it for
deviant tendencies, Ottery stepped out confidently and drove
it to the boundary.
‘Pretty style he has, don’t you think?’ asked Professor Jones.
‘Very stylish,’ agreed Phryne. It was extremely pleasant to
just sit in the shade and watch a cricket match. The word predictable
didn’t really describe cricket, prone as it was to sudden
changes and shocks, but the ritual of the game was as familiar
and soothing as cream.
Kirkpatrick’s next ball seemed to be exactly the same. Ottery
had taken a pace forward before he realised that the ball was
turning, and managed only a flat batted swat which drove it into
the ground. ‘That Kirkpatrick isn’t as innocuous as he seems,’
she commented, as the batsmen crossed.
‘Watch the next one,’ said Professor Jones.
Harcourt faced Kirkpatrick. The ball left the bowler’s hand
and slipped through the air, hit and turned on a right angle which
Harcourt tried and entirely failed to keep out of his stumps.
‘Very pretty,’ approved Professor Jones. At one wicket for
five runs, Harcourt trudged back to the pavilion, noticeably cast
down. There was a pause before Joss Hart emerged, limping a
little. ‘Hart’s their best bat,’ Professor Jones told Phryne. ‘But
Kirkpatrick’s motto is, “If you can’t blast ’em out, niggle ’em
out.” If we had him in the Test team we wouldn’t have had to
watch England make six hundred-odd. He might even make
headway against Hammond. And we’ve got Bisset’s fast bowling
to supply the blasting. But it’s a long way to the end of a cricket
match, m’dear.’