Ollie Peake
Like Sting: A cricketer in Geelong.
There is no denying that Geelong is a football town—or that Sting felt the frostiness of New York.
With 10 VFL/AFL premierships, the Geelong Cats rank as one of the league’s most successful and consistent teams. Polly Farmer, Gary Ablett Snr, Gary Ablett Jnr, Joel Selwood, and Patrick Dangerfield, to name a few, are constantly in the local sporting consciousness.
And cricket? Well, it plays second fiddle, of course. The oldies remember Lindsay Hassett; Ian Redpath enjoyed universal love for his unwavering humility. And Aaron Finch was, and still is, the kid from Colac who went on to captain his country. Still with all that, cricket remains a second cousin, politely lurking on the peripheries of the bigger family. Until now. No, not really.
Geelong teenager Ollie Peake will make his international debut tonight, selected for the series opener against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. A South Geelong local and a product of the South Barwon Cricket Club and Geelong Cricket Club, Peake has enjoyed a rapid rise to International honours. The Geelong cricket community should be rightfully proud, and I am sure will be wishing him well. Personally, I have spent many hours with Peakey since he debuted for Geelong as a 17-year-old, and enjoyed every minute. He is balanced, appreciative of others, and acutely humble—to a fault.
Many people could lay claim to Peake’s rise, but as it should be, it will be his family that will feel the glow the warmest.
Congrats, and play well, Sneaky.
Nick
A caption for the photo. Thank you to Raja Imran Bahadr.
“What number du reckon Peake’s gonna bat? Six, maybe seven, anyways, we’ll see how he goes. Du have a ticket?”
Excellent note and acknowledgement, Nick.