IRISH cricketers don’t hang around and suffer through the winter chills like the rest of us. These days they jet off Down Under to work on their skills and gain fantastic experiences on and off the field.

The links between the Irish women’s team and Australian cricket have been strengthened in recent years and that has borne fruit again, with Isobel Joyce playing as a full-time pro with the Tasmanian Roar state side, with several of team-mates joining her down there.

The Roar kick off their season on Thursday with the first of three 50 over games in four days against Queensland at Allan Border Field. They play NSW on Friday and South Australia on Sunday, and among her team-mates is ex-YMCA pro Brooke Hepburn.

Joyce has had a couple of run outs so far, making a duck for North v South in the Intrastate Series, and taking 1-24 for South Hobart Sandy Bay CC.

Shauna Kavanagh had a good start for her season with Gordon CC in Sydney last weekend. Going in number six, she made 35 off 46 balls (3 fours) out of a total 262-7 as Penrith were beaten by 156 runs. Ireland captain Laura Delany is also playing with Gordon, while Jennifer Gray is playing in New Zealand, where former Ireland spinner Eimear Richardson is now an established State player with Wellington Blaze.

Andrew Balbirnie has begun his return to cricket after a long lay-off, and is turning out with Randwick-Petersham in Sydney. Balbirnie started in Second Grade where he made 25 and 13 in two early games, but batted No7 last weekend on his First Grade debut, when he was run out for 23 against Northern District.

Another man who hasn’t been seen much in Irish colours recently – if for different reasons – is Nick Larkin. Now contracted to New South Wales, he started the season with a 2 against Campbelltown, and then made 87 against St George. But the man who scored the first interpro double century ever in Ireland was in full spate last weekend against Manly-Warringah.

His unbeaten 206 for Sydney University was mostly made in an opening stand of 337 with Greg Mail (179) at the University Oval. It was the second best opening partnership in the history of NSW Premier Cricket, behind only the legendary Victor Trumper and Dan Gee, who had a partnership of 423 for Paddington against Redfern in 1903. Larkin faced 247 balls and hit 27 boundaries.

Sean Terry also played at the weekend, making 17 for Richmond C C against Dandenong in Melbourne Premier Grade.

Also in Australia is George Dockrell, who is playing with his Trinity team-mate Matt Petrie’s club Valley District in Brisbane, and Clontarf’s Robert ‘Bobbo’ Forrest is playing in Melbourne.

Even further afield, in New Zealand, are Ireland seamer Graeme McCarter and Under-19 Rory Anders, who took 4-32 when Ireland frightened the Baby Black Caps in Fatullah last winter.

McCarter is playing with Cornwall CC in Hawkes Bay, who kicked off last weekend with a losing draw against Napier Tech Old Boys in the Big Barrell Premier League. The Irishman took 1-47 off nine overs, and going in number seven, top-scored with 43 off 34 balls. McCarter was clean bowled by former Ireland guest pro Jesse Ryder.

We’ll keep you up to date on our players overseas over the winter and would be grateful for news of any others joining them, and their exploits.