The Hayballs are a family of Wiltshire poachers, renegades and ne'er-do-wells. Grampie Hayballs is the head of the family and a friend of the local Duke, whose son wishes to "redevelop" their village and bulldoze the cricket green. A trial by bat and ball is arranged to decide the issue. Peter Tinniswood, the creator of the Brandon family and the Brigadier, has also written "Collected Tales from a Long Rook", "Uncle Mort's North Country", "I Didn't Know You Cared" and "Except You're a Bird".