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Five heading down under

Mike Floyd
15/ 9/2004

HEYWOOD Cricket Club's season ended on Sunday, but the dust had hardly settled at Crimble when five of the club's young stars headed down under.

Bobby Cross, Chris Kaye, Josh Webb, Will Purser and Andy Taylor boarded a Singapore Airways flight for Australia on Tuesday morning, heading to sunnier climes as they seek to continue their cricket education.

Cross, who made a successful comeback from a serious finger injury at the weekend, is teaming up with former Heywood pro Keith Slater at Perth club Midland Guildford.

The 21-year-old opening bat, who has played for Lancashire Seconds for the last two seasons, has recently completed his law degree and is now looking to play cricket at county level. His progress has been hampered by injury for two years running, but a winter in Australia could be just the tonic he needs.

Midland, who play in Western Australia A Grade, have four teams, with Cross likely to start with the second Xl before moving up to play for the senior team.

Will Purser is returning to Wembley, the club he played for last winter, where he will be joined by Andy Taylor. The two Heywood fast bowlers will team up with former Heywood overseas amateur Craig Glancy at the Perth club.

All-rounder Chris Kaye, who has had an excellent season with bat and ball, goes to Kalgoorlie where the Heywood connection is Nolan Hall, the coach of Hannans Cricket Club. Hall played as a professional and amateur at Crimble in the 1980s and will welcome Kaye to the club.

Last by no means least, making the journey to the southern hemisphere, is up and coming batsman Josh Webb.

Heywood coach Bob Dearden has fixed the promising junior up with New South Wales University in Sydney, coached by another former Heywood professional and Australian Test bowler Geoff Lawson.

• THE SEASON may have ended for Biwater Heywood Cricket Club's first and second teams, but there is still a chance to catch some cricket at Crimble this Sunday when the Third Xl play Unsworth for the Roydes Trophy. Wickets are pitched at 12.45pm and all are welcome.