Backyard Cricket

When I first moved to Brisbane I bought an old Queenslander (house) that had a huge spreading Mango tree in the back garden. The tree took up most of the garden and provided cool shade in the tropical heat. There was an old, unkept vegetable patch with rambling beans spreading over the fence. I could imagine children playing in the garden in the stinking summer heat. This story is how I imagined the scene, complete with my cattle dog, Hill’s Hoist and cicadas. It describes a children's cricket match, the fights and disagreements they have, the best players and how they solve disputes. There is always the child that bats well, the one that refuses to go out and the one who cannot hit the ball. No Backyard match would be complete without the home made stumps, the dog and food. This is a story taking place in everyone's backyard over summer!’ Anne Garton