As a young boy growing up in the 1970s in the suburbs of Adelaide, Barry Nicholls was negotiating the dreadful haircuts and unrequited infatuations of adolescence, while his heroes, Chappell, Lillee and Thommo, were creating cricket history against Pommie champions like Boycott and Botham. Like thousands of Aussie kids playing cricket at school, in their backyards or on the beach - Barry wanted to be bat like them, bowl like them and play for Australia. But like many boys who dreamed those dreams, he never quite did. But along the way Barry discovered that in the competing, the striving and just having fun with his family, friends and mates - that cricket really can change your life - even if you don't get to play for Australia. A charming coming-of-age memoir set against the Ashes battles of the 70s and 80s that celebrates the eternal wisdom of cricket.