Geelong young gun Oliver Peake says his father Clinton and coach Nick Speak have been instrumental in his development
A Geelong young gun, who made his maiden first grade hundred in Premier cricket, has revealed his two biggest mentors as he seeks to emulate his Ashes-winning heroes.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Geelong young gun is drawing on the knowledge and experience of two big mentors as he looks to one day emulate his Ashes-winning heroes.
One of the region’s most promising cricketers, Oliver Peake, 17, made his first top grade century on Saturday against Greenvale Kangaroos — a 116-ball 110 which helped the Cats compile a monster 4-354.
It was just Peake’s fifth game in the top flight and comes days after being selected in the Victorian country under-19 team, for the second year in a row, with the Albury nationals looming in December.
However, the young southpaw has been in the fortunate position to draw on some expert tutelage, including Geelong coach and Manchester product Nick Speak, who made 16 first class and List A hundreds in his career with Durham and Lancashire.
The other, obviously, is his father Clinton who made a bucketload of runs with Geelong and later South Barwon and played 14 matches for Victoria from the mid 1990s to early 2000s.
Father and son combined for a 162-run stand for the Swans in third grade in December, 2019.
“Definitely dad and probably more recently Nick Speak has been really good, he’s put a lot of time into me which I’ve valued,” Peake said.
“He definitely knows his stuff.
“Just hearing things from another voice, I’ve always had dad who I think I bat quite a fair bit like.
“’Speaky’ probably helps me with a few of the things maybe that dad wasn’t quite as good at.
“Dad probably helps me with things like facing spin bowling which was a real strength of his.”
Peake also has an on field mentor in Eamonn Vines, who returned to the club this summer.
The pair would put on 82 runs for the third wicket on Saturday, completing a nice historical symmetry, as Vines had received plenty of guidance from Peake’s father at South Barwon.
“When Eamonn was playing with dad ... I used to look up to him heaps because he was making runs for fun at South Barwon,” he said.
“Obviously him guiding me through (on Saturday) was pretty cool as well.
“Dad put a bit of time into Eamonn when he was at South Barwon.”
Young Peake would regularly be in the nets on a Saturday afternoon as his father played, “pretending we were playing for Australia”.
In fact, Peake’s love affair with the game was solidified almost a decade ago when Australia won the Ashes at home 5-0 during a triumphant 2013-14 summer.
He idolised the nation’s premier batters of the day in Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke.
“The first series I can really remember was the 2013-14 Ashes,” he said.
“That was probably the series I remember best.
“I just remember me always being obsessed with (cricket).”
Meanwhile, the Year 11 Geelong Grammar student said he was still a little stunned by his century.
However, it’s been just reward for total dedication with Peake seriously training four times a week, whether it be at the school or with Geelong.
“It’s still a little bit of a shock,” Peake said of his century.
“I’ve been training a fair bit across the pre-season until now, I felt like I was due for a bit of a score.
“I was happy to go on with it.”
The only downer is Geelong will lose Peake to school commitments and the national carnival in Albury in December, but will return for some games in the new year.
EARLIER
A maiden first grade hundred to Geelong young gun Oliver Peake has seen the Cats post a massive 4-354 against Greenvale Kangaroos in Victorian Premier cricket.
Peake, playing in just his fifth top flight game, stroked 110 off 116 balls with 11 boundaries at Kardinia Park on Saturday.
After declaring and having the Kangaroos 2-12 at stumps off four overs, Geelong is in the box seat to go 3-0 to open their 2023-24 campaign.
It was Peake’s second contribution of note from three innings after posting a 100-ball 69 in a Round 1 win against reigning premier Melbourne.
And it comes just days after being named in the state country under-19 team for the nationals in December in Albury.
Josh Garner and Tom Neate grabbed a wicket each – both through LBW decisions – to leave the Kangaroos teetering at the end of day one of the Round 3 fixture.
The club’s director of cricket Travis Agg said there was a nice symmetry on Saturday with Peake’s father Clinton having a big influence on Eamonn Vines, who shared an 81-run stand with young Oliver.
“He was just in control and played a really mature innings,” Agg said of the younger Peake.
“Every time I looked up he was hitting the ball into the right spots and ran really hard.
“That’s what really struck me, how well he ran between the wickets.”
Agg said Peake was a level headed and mature operator for a 17-year-old.
“He’s got a really good head on his shoulders, he’s a good kid, he’s a ripper,” he said.
“It’s just like watching (Clinton) go about it 20, 30 years ago.”
Agg said the Cats had defied any pre-season expectations they may struggle in 2023-24 with a young squad.
“We’re pretty excited about how we’re going,” he said.
“It’s awesome
“I think there was a little bit of doom and gloom around, we’ve lost Dom (McGlinchey), ‘Couchy’, Tom O’Connell’s gone.
“The performances have been brilliant, we’re getting a snapshot of what the future can potentially hold.
“We’re also seeing what we can be now.
“There might be some ups and downs but we’re actually good enough.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Geelong young gun Oliver Peake says his father Clinton and coach Nick Speak have been instrumental in his development
Geelong Cup drama as favourite pulled, Melb Cup bolter emerges
The winner of the Geelong Cup has been crowned, but the favourite was concerningly pulled early in the race. See all the results, action and colour from the day here.
‘Touch and go’: How Ollie Peake bounced back from broken leg
After a nasty football injury, one of the region’s most promising cricketers had four months to get his body right for a tour of India. Here’s how he did it.