Ollie Peake #252

The Geelong teenager eclipses Ricky Ponting as the youngest specialist batter to debut for Australia in ODIs

I can’t exactly remember how it goes: “Things happen for a reason.” Or, “The universe gives you what you need, when you need it most.” I always listened to Becca, though sometimes not as intently as I should.

Geelong teenager Ollie Peake will make his international debut tonight, selected for the series opener against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

Reckon he’ll bat six or seven?

What did we do before WhatsApp and the like? Last night I went to bed thinking Geelong would beat Carlton, and then hoping Peakey might message with good news. Waking early, not sure why, I went to the AFL Live app first, and was floored to see Carlton over Geelong by four points. Next, WhatsApp, “In for tomorrow, batting at 7.” He used a comma too! An understated reply—as is Peakey’s want, “Nice..a thumb emoji.” The universe does give you what you need.

At 19 years and 261 days, the Victorian left-hander will beat Ricky Ponting’s record as the youngest specialist batter to debut for Australia, and becomes Australia’s fourth-youngest cricketer in men’s ODIs.

A South Geelong local and a product of the South Barwon Cricket Club and Geelong Cricket Club, Peake has enjoyed a rapid rise from pathways cricket to a full season of Shield and an encouraging start to his BBL—T20 career. He’s still on an Optus Stadium blacklist!

I think I have said before, “One ball can turn a match.” In this case, it was an innings and a start to a fledgling career at Premier level for Geelong.

Contrary to an earlier comment on recall, I do have a capacity to remember cricket stuff with far more accuracy than other pursuits.

It was the fourth ball of over seven. Geelong were 2-38, chasing Melbourne’s 238, Peake was on debut as a 17-year-old, batting at four (50-over game). Two of our most experienced batters were out: Eamonn Vines and Hayden Butterworth, and Melbourne’s key bowler, WA quick David Moody, was getting them down with some haste.

Some batters see them early, others look vulnerable until they get the peepers working—I could be both. Peakey? I wasn’t sure if he was a nervous starter; by nature, he is a fidgety character who borders on annoying. Then the first ball match-up. Sometimes it falls your way, then you get what you don’t want. I thought Moody was perfect for Peakey; quick and full, plenty of pace to use, and likely to go at the timbers; we’d spoken about this, but then, what about the short ball? Moody had plenty in the tank to make it uncomfortable for the youngster.

Coaches are irrelevant in this moment, handcuffed by the immediacy of the game moment. Moody steamed in, around the wicket, it was full and straight, Peakey stood in quicksand, the footwork, a strength, betrayed him, halfway down I thought he was cooked, a first-baller on debut, the nay-sayers were right, we should have waited! Then, a skill that will serve him well, Peakey transferred the accountability to his hands, finding a way to re-route the bat to a glancing deflection that prevented the furniture from being scattered behind him. A bonus was the deflection scurried along the ground, beating a diving second slip, then a sprawling third man. He was away, a boundary had him striking at 400.00! The over finished with two dots; a leave and another tentative dead-bat block—time to breathe.

Peake finished with 69 from 100 balls even. His stage splits were acceptable: 10 (10 balls), 10 (20 balls), and 49 (70 balls)—in his mind, most importantly, Geelong won by two wickets. He was out at 5-186 in over 38. The job was four parts done. Of course, Peake was miffed that he didn’t see it through. Being your own worst critic is a difficult challenge to balance. As I see it, having spent a lot of time with Peake, the young batter manages this better than most.

Many people might 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

Ps. Credit to Raja Imran Bahadr for the photo. It’s perfect.