March, 1941. World War Two is well underway and the Blitz is taking its toll on Central London with bombs raining down almost every night. Inspector Coburg and his trusted Sergeant Lampson are just recovering from the devastating bomb attack on the Cafe de Paris when they get a call asking them to go to the disused Lord's Underground station. Once there, they are taken to see the body of a man at the entrance. He's been beaten to death by blows to his head, by what Dr Welbourne believes to have been a cricket bat. Could the dead man be associated with the British Empire XI who are playing against English cricket teams at the world-famous Lord's Cricket Ground? Coburg and Lampson have a puzzling case to solve . . .