Fair Game

by Alex Blackwell, Megan Maurice

Overview

Alex Blackwell lived and breathed our national sport of cricket for thirty years.

Starting as a kid, she spent her childhood and teen years playing and competing with her identical twin, Kate, who was equally devoted to the bat and ball. But it was Alex who went on to consolidate a spot in the national side, eventually rising to the captaincy, notching up an eye-watering list of sporting achievements and earning her a name as one of the greats of the game.

But life off field brought challenges of its own. From her professional debut, Alex was unafraid to call out hypocrisy and go in to battle against the traditional hierarchies of the game. Speaking out and becoming a passionate advocate for women and LGBTIQ+ people in sport won her many fans and much respect, but it didn't come without a price.

Fair Game is an unflinching account of life in Australia's most loved sporting team, told by one of its most lauded members. It reveals not only the extreme dedication and skill it takes to be the best, but also how it feels to be on the outer - even as one of the game's most decorated players.

Representing Australia 251 times across Tests, one day internationals and T20 matches, no woman in history has played more matches for the Australian Women's cricket team than Alex Blackwell. And no one knows better both the extreme highs and devastating lows that come with playing this majestic but at times brutal game at the highest level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780733648298
Publisher:	Hachette Australia
Publication date:	01/26/2022
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Alex Blackwell is a former Australian women's cricket captain who represented Australia 251 times across Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, with the team winning the World Cup and The Ashes under her captaincy. Since her retirement in late 2019 Alex has continued to be involved in the game as a board member, commentator, and media spokesperson. After initially studying medicine at university - and having to change degrees so she could play cricket for Australia - she now works as a genetic counsellor in addition to being a commentator on Fox Sports and ABC Grandstand. She is a patron of Pride in Sport and the LBW Trust of Australia, an ambassador of the Primary Club, a Doctor of the University of New South Wales and a former non-executive director of Cricket NSW. In 2021 Alex was awarded an honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Megan Maurice is an award-winning journalist and the co-author of Shine: The Making of the Australian Netball Diamonds and of Fair Game by Alex Blackwell (Hachette, 2022). Her journalism has been published widely and she is a regular contributor to The Guardian, with a particular focus on issues of equity, diversity and inclusion. She lives in Sydney with her family.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Hindsight 1

Chapter 1 The new normal 3

Chapter 2 Why this book? 12

Part 2 Beginnings 19

Chapter 3 Getting my start 21

Chapter 4 Finding my feet 28

Chapter 5 Choosing my path 36

Part 3 Emergence 45

Chapter 6 Learning about myself 47

Chapter 7 Getting the call-up 54

Chapter 8 Tough decisions 65

Part 4 Identity 73

Chapter 9 Taking a stand 75

Chapter 10 Accepting myself 83

Chapter 11 Going public 90

Part 5 Establishment 97

Chapter 12 Leadership lessons 99

Chapter 13 Say you want it 106

Chapter 14 Taking on the world 115

Part 6 Advocacy 125

Chapter 15 Pushing for inclusion 127

Chapter 16 The power of symbolism 134

Chapter 17 Walking the walk 141

Chapter 18 Fighting the shame 147

Chapter 19 Love is love 151

Part 7 Professionalism 161

Chapter 20 The 'ideal' women's cricketer 163

Chapter 21 Making progress 171

Chapter 22 Changing standards 178

Chapter 23 Solidarity 187

Part 8 Leadership 193

Chapter 24 The right attributes 195

Chapter 25 Not-so-golden girls 201

Chapter 26 A simple plan 212

Chapter 27 Under pressure 220

Chapter 28 Time to declare 236

Chapter 29 In the heat of the moment 244

Chapter 30 Moving on 259

Part 9 Future 269

Chapter 31 Reflections 271

Chapter 32 Passing the baton 279

Chapter 33 Where to next? 286

Chapter 34 An ideal future 294

Acknowledgements 305