Michael O'Leary's cricket novel reviewed in The Cricket Monthly

 

© Jeffrey Phillips

By the book -  Fantasy cricket

Michael O'Leary's Out of It is a trippy read, one where Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin entertain you with their batting exploits

Benjamin Golby | April 2017

   

A fellow pulls a sick day from work to attend a one-day international. There he begins to think. His mind unravels and his way of life disintegrates.

This is the premise of Michael O'Leary's novella Out of It. It's Auckland in 1987 and the New Zealand XI is lustrous: Richard Hadlee, the brothers Crowe, Ewen Chatfield, Lance Cairns and Jeremy Coney. The home side wins the toss and elects to bowl. From one end of Eden Park, Hadlee scythes wickets, and Chatfield ties up maidens at the other.

This may sound readily imaginable. Proceedings are soon warped.
The first delivery is smacked back over Hadlee's head for six by Jimi Hendrix. The Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring is run out for a duck. Oscar Wilde makes hay against Cairns and John Bracewell.

 

Vice-captain Bob Marley comes in at No. 8, cuffs a six and a four and is clean bowled by Martin Crowe. Janis Joplin anchors the tail with a steely 24 not out.

 

 

MORE