Luck of the Irish fails Healesville

By Kath Gannaway
EVEN the luck of the Irish couldn’t secure a win for Healesville against Wandin in the Strachan Shield on Saturday.
In what could be seen as one of the most innovative recruiting strategies in local cricket history, the club has secured the services of two Irish lads, Jonny Heywood and Steven Campbell.
The boys had never heard of Healesville before they met Healesville cricket enthusiasts Nicole Hay and Courtney Stewart while they were on holiday in Ireland.
“We decided to come over after the cricket season finished back home and got a got a work visa for a year,” said Jonny, who topped the batting with 33 runs on Saturday.
Jonny plays with Fox Lodge Cricket Club in Ballymagorry and Steven plays with Bready Cricket Club near Londonderry.
Apart from the heat-wave in the first round, and the fact they bat on synthetic turf in Ireland, Jonny said cricket in Australia is much the same.
“The standard is pretty good, similar to back home, and we’ve been made very welcome at Healesville,” he said.