Ollie Peake—told you so...

Trust your instincts

Geelong’s Ollie Peake heads to Pakistan with Australia as part of their ODI squad at the end of the month. Still a teenager, Peake’s rise to the national side is as predictable as it is surprising. He has many advocates, all with impressive CVs. And the critics, just himself, his father, Clinton, and me.

Saturday night we chatted while trying to keep warm, watching St Mary’s host St Joseph’s in the local GFL. I knew what he knew, but he had to play the “I can’t tell you” game. Monday morning confirmed he was off to Pakistan and likely to make his ODI debut as a 19-year-old.

And the “I told you so” bit—forgive the self-indulgence.

I coached Geelong CC for four seasons. We selected Peake as a 17-year-old, ignoring the seniority grumblings, because we did, and my eye told me Peake was different.

Picked Round 1 of the 2023-24 Premier season, he debuted against Melbourne—69 from 100 balls in a 50-over win, controlling the middle of the chase against solid competition. Two hits later, a maiden century against Greenvale. Five innings in, 319 runs at 159.5. "Unsustainable," the senior cartel muttered! Haha, mayo there.

It was after the Greenvale game that I bumped into Peake’s mother, Sarah, who has ridden every wave with him.

“How friggin cool is that—a first grade hundred!” Sarah said.

“Yeah, he played nicely, good partnership with Josh at the end,” I said, coaching hat squarely on.

“How good for Ollie, it’s unreal.” Sarah continued, as every proud mum should.

And I caved. “You know he’ll play for Australia.”

“No, ye reckon?”

Yes, I did then, Sarah. And I do now. Congrats to all the family.

Nick

P.S. I intended to continue with the Ideas post and come clean about my hoarding—that will be tomorrow. This was too topical to pass up.

---

Written Jan, 2024: Ollie Peake, where to next? SpeakingCricket: Nick Speak