Cricket Willow’s origin can be traced back to the 1902 Ashes when it was found that Australia did not cultivate its own willow for bat making Cricket Willow’s origin can be traced back to the 1902 Ashes when it was found that Australia did not cultivate its own willow for bat making Above: Newstead and Hepburn meet in a Castlemaine & District Cricket Association match at the self-made ground at Cricket Willow. Below: Ian and Trish Tinetti watch Newstead take on Hepburn from the verandah at