I’ve always been known for my timing. It’s what makes me a great batsman... Today, I’ve got the worst timing known to man.

It’s the summer of 2005, England prepares to win the Ashes, and Ismail is about to become the youngest ever player in his elite public school’s First XI cricket team. He sets his sights on immortality to break the school batting record and get his name into Wisden. But things are about to heat up.

Recipient of the Pleasance's Charlie Hartill Fund 2024, from award-winning playwright maatin, Duck explores the challenges of adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition, and what it means to establish your own identity.

This edition was published to coincide with the run at the Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2024.