Geelong young gun Oliver Peake to join the Australian team at the under-19 World Cup

One of Geelong’s most promising young cricketers has been called up to the national team for the under-19 World Cup after a teammate broke his hand.

Oliver Peake made 73 not out against St Kilda for Geelong in a T20 match. Picture: Carey Neate.

One of Geelong’s brightest cricketing exploits is South Africa-bound for the Under-19 World Cup.

Oliver Peake, who hit two centuries as Country Victoria captain during the recent Under-17 national championships in Ballarat, is now on the cusp of playing for the country following an injury to a teammate.

Peake, who was initially named as a non-travelling emergency for the tournament, confirmed with this publication he will be sent overseas after a player broke his hand during Australia’s win in its initial game against Namibia.

Peake will be the youngest player in the national squad, having starred at both the Under-17 and 19 national carnivals over the past two months and making their respective teams of the tournament.

Oliver Peake raises the bat after a hundred against Tasmania during the Under-17 national championships. Picture: Dylan Burns.

He also represented Country Victoria at both competitions last summer.

The 17-year-old made his maiden Premier first grade hundred with Geelong earlier this summer, a 116-ball 110 against Greenvale Kangaroos in late October.

In a Facebook post, Peake’s school Geelong Grammar said its last student to represent the country at an Under-19 level in cricket was Meyrick Buchanan in 2012, where Australia was beaten by India in the final.

In a statement on Wednesday, a Cricket Australia spokesperson could not confirm Peake’s inclusion and was waiting on confirmation from the ICC as per their process for squad changes.

Originally published as Geelong young gun Oliver Peake to join the Australian team at the under-19 World Cup