Leinster Lightning all-rounder Gavin Hoey has been in the wickets during his four-month sojourn in Sydney. The Trinity and Pembroke man has been playing with University of New South Wales and at the half-way break he is the leading wicket-taker in the Sydney Second Grade competition.

The leg-spinner has taken 20 wickets at 18.90, with a best performance of 6-57 off 19 overs on debut against Sydney University.

Hoey also took 3-37 against Randwick Petersham when he came up against fellow Irishmen Scott Macbeth and Tim Tector – and delighted in a one-run win for the Uni.

Sadly, local league rules permit only one overseas per side in the First Grade, reducing his opportunities to play at a higher level. That slot is currently occupied by Ben Green of Somerset, who made 157 (including a 58 ball hundred) in a Royal Liver Cup game against Durham in August.

Several young Irish players have been playing this winter in Australia, with Theo Dempsey (Phoenix and Trinity) taking 3-24 for Sydney University against Blacktown and making 28 not out against Campbelltown-Camden.