Academy Smash Read online

  ‘Wen-Lee?’ Billy asked.

  ‘Her parents found that brochure,’ Giorgio continued. ‘They thought the Melbourne Stars Cricket Academy Camp would be a great birthday present for her. ‘We helped them out a bit and, well, we saw you work so hard to earn your money for the ticket only for Mrs Butterwhump to take it away, that we knew you deserved a place in the academy too. Two for one.’

  ‘But, the phone call you made to Amanda? You were pleading for me to get in,’ Billy said.

  Giorgio nodded. ‘I was, wasn’t I? Good acting by Giorgio, hmm?’

  Billy grinned, recalling the moment. ‘Sure was,’ he agreed. Then frowned. ‘Giorgio, it’s Saturday.’

  ‘It is indeed,’ Giorgio chuckled.

  ‘But it’s market day,’ Billy said. ‘It’s the busiest day of the week. Who’s running the stalls?’

  Giorgio smiled. ‘Well, that’s a little problem for our Mrs Butterwhump, isn’t it?’

  Billy laughed at the thought of Mrs Butterwhump lumbering and stomping from stall to stall, trying to keep up with the hundreds of customers. ‘On her own?’ he asked.

  ‘Billy,’ Giorgio said, ‘you might not be the only person to lose their job at the market. We’ve all gone on strike. We were very upset with the way Mrs Butterwhump took your money and spoke to you. And, of course, you being dismissed the way you were. It’s not right.’

  ‘But –’

  ‘Billy, not another word, do you hear? Now, explain this crazy game to me. I mean, I know the basic rules, but tell me all about this Big Bash, hmm?’

  The second game was a lot closer, with the Queensland team securing victory off the third-last ball of the game. Wen-Lee joined Billy and the others just as Giorgio and Damien were serving a sumptuous dinner – everyone from the market had brought delicious food from their stalls to share.

  A cooling breeze whispered across the ground as the stadium lights faded and the lights in the enormous towers took over. The ground had filled rapidly and the buzz in the air was electric.

  Billy looked across to his parents. His dad was pointing at something on the other side of the ground, while his mum took photos. They were both enjoying themselves, Billy was sure of it.

  ‘I can’t believe we’re about to watch Brendon McCullum and Chris Lynn open the batting,’ Wen-Lee said, waving an enormous Brisbane Heat flag.

  ‘I thought you were a Glenn Maxwell fan,’ Billy retorted, ducking away from the moving flag.

  ‘Yeah, of course. And a Melbourne Stars fan too, but just not tonight,’ Wen-Lee said.

  Billy grinned. ‘Well, be prepared for disappointment because Ben Hilfenhaus is opening the bowling.’

  CRACK!

  Sixty thousand pairs of eyes stared in amazement as Chris Lynn sent the first delivery way back over the bowler’s head and into the second tier of the grandstand.

  CRACK!

  ‘That one’s gone even further!’ Wen-Lee squealed, leaping out of her seat. Next to Billy, Giorgio was clapping excitedly.

  ‘Giorgio, that’s Brisbane Heat doing all the smashing and bashing,’ Billy said.

  Giorgio turned in his seat, a look of wonder in his eyes. ‘But, Billy, you must admit, they are amazing shots, hmm?’

  CRACK!

  There was a collective gasp from the crowd.

  ‘Billy, it’s coming right for us!’ Giorgio cried, jumping up suddenly.

  ‘I’ve got this!’ Billy shouted, joining him.

  The white ball had reached the top of its arc and was now beaming right in on Billy. Or was it?

  It’s too high, Billy thought, standing up on his seat. Taking a leap into the air, he thrust out his right arm.

  There was a huge roar from the crowd as the ball stuck fast in Billy’s hand and knocked him over. For a moment, Billy thought he was going to be able to regain his balance, but a split second later, he toppled backwards, landing on the person seated in the row behind him.

  Billy wrinkled his nose. What was that smell? That steaming, stinking bad breath …

  He forced his eyes open and found himself staring into the terrifyingly ugly face of Mrs Butterwhump. He’d landed right in her lap!

  Billy froze. Someone took the ball out of his hand.

  ‘Look, Billy, you’re on the big screen!’ Wen-Lee cried.

  The crowd was cheering and laughing.

  ‘Billy Hunter,’ Mrs Butterwhump said.

  ‘M-Mrs Butterwhump,’ Billy stammered. ‘H-Hi.’

  ‘I have something for you.’ Mrs Butterwhump rummaged through her bag.

  Billy had managed to get himself back to his feet and stood awkwardly in front of her. Mrs Butterwhump held out an envelope. Billy’s heart surged. Everyone around them had stopped their chatting and were watching closely.

  ‘Well, go on, Billy. Open it,’ his dad said, from the row in front.

  Billy did. Inside was a bundle of cash.

  ‘It’s the money you raised at the market,’ Mrs Butterwhump said. ‘I’m sorry I took it from you. That was wrong. And your friends here made me realise that too.’ She looked at the market stall holders sitting around them. ‘I have learnt something today. That people are more important than money.’

  Billy stared at her, uncertain of what to say.

  ‘Now, stop glaring at me and get back to your seat,’ she added, her eyes narrowing as she swung her head from side to side.

  ‘Thanks, Mrs Butterwhump,’ Billy said before turning to his friend. ‘Giorgio, this is yours,’ he said quietly, passing the old man the envelope.

  ‘Oh no, it is not.’

  ‘But –’

  ‘No, that is yours,’ Giorgio insisted. ‘You earned that yourself.’

  ‘But you paid for me to come to the Melbourne Stars Cricket Academy Camp.’

  ‘Billy, we all did.’ Olga beamed from further along the row. ‘Then I need to split the money with you all,’ Billy said.

  ‘No, you need to give that envelope to your parents before I change my mind,’ Giorgio said, wagging his finger. ‘And who knows, maybe you’ll buy yourself some proper balls and a set of stumps so you can use those rather than my fruit, hmm?’

  ‘Deal,’ Billy said with a laugh.

  35 games were played

  10,641 runs were scored

  114 was the highest individual score

  1 hundred was scored

  52 fifties were scored

  382 sixes were scored

  132.6 was the average strike rate

  301 catches were taken

  1330.4 overs were bowled

  416 wickets were taken

  1 winner was crowned … the Perth Scorchers!

  57 games were played

  12,871 runs were scored

  103 was the highest individual score

  1 hundred was scored

  40 fifties were scored

  159 sixes were scored

  100.8 was the average strike rate

  339 catches were taken

  2113.2 overs were bowled

  542 wickets were taken

  1 winner was crowned … the Sydney Sixers!

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Penguin Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Version 1.0

  Big Bash League 5: Academy Smash

  ePub ISBN – 9780143782285

  First published by Random House Australia in 2017

  Text copyright © Penguin Random House Australia 2017

  Branding copyright © Cricket Australia 2017

&nb
sp; Illustrations copyright © James Fosdike 2017

  The moral right of the author and illustrator has been asserted.

  A Random House Australia book

  Published by Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd

  Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

  www.penguin.com.au

  Addresses for the Penguin Random House group of companies can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com/offices

  National Library of Australia

  Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry

  Author: Panckridge, Michael, 1962–

  Title: Academy Smash [electronic resource]

  ISBN: 978 0 14378 228 5 (ebook)

  Series: Big Bash League; 5

  Target Audience: For children

  Subjects: Cricket stories

  Sports – Juvenile fiction

  Cover and internal illustrations by James Fosdike

  Cover design by Christa Moffitt, Christabella Designs

  Ebook by Firstsource