- 24 for 3 by Jennie Walker
Jennie Walker (the pseudonym used by the English poet Charles Boyle) used the backdrop of a Test match between England and India to write his novella ‘’24 for 3’’ (2007). The 128-page book narrates the story of a woman named Alan who has a difficult time in choosing between her lover and her husband. The plot develops in the course of just five days, during an England v/s India Test match. Alan’s husband draws elaborate diagrams of field placements and teaches Alan the basic rules of the game. On the flipside, Alan’s lover is a ‘’loss adjuster’’ who prefers mystery over anything else. Walker also depicts a beautiful relationship between Alan and her stepson Selwyn, whom she loves more than anything else in this mortal world. Alan’s responsibilities towards Selwyn further multiply her dilemma. Cricket takes the role of a vehicle in this book as Alan pertinently draws parallels between the people in her life and the tactics associated with the game. The novella was favourably reviewed by The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph and won the McKitterick Prize in 2008.
