Geelong cricket star Ollie Peake overcame a broken leg to play for Australia in India

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.

Ollie Peake made two hundreds on Australia's under-19 tour of India. Picture: Supplied.

After a fractured leg and a banged up ankle in early June, it became pretty clear that Geelong teenage cricket star Ollie Peake’s footy days were officially over.

The then 17-year-old sustained a fibula fracture and further damage to a syndesmosis ligament after falling awkwardly in a marking contest while playing for Geelong Grammar against Haileybury.

And while his footy season was done, Peake had bigger issues on his sporting agenda: a five-game under-19 Australian tour of India starting from mid-September.

The talented southpaw had four months to get his body and mind right to make the flight.

The injury initially wiped out two months from his cricketing calendar, with four weeks off his feet in a cast and then a further four in a moon boot.

Ollie Peake made two hundreds on Australia's under-19 tour of India. Picture: Supplied.

“It was pretty touch and go for a while (to make the trip), from the time I did it, I think I had 16 weeks to get ready,” Peake said.

“It was pretty slow getting back into everything.

“Every session was just trying to work towards being right for India, it wasn’t until maybe two or three weeks out that I was definitely right to go.

“Even then, I still wasn’t at 100 per cent.”

It’s something which makes his achievements on Indian soil all the more special.

Peake, who turned 18 in September, would hit two centuries from just six innings in a pair of Youth Tests and one day fixtures.

Ollie Peake made 111 off 115 balls in the third one day match. Picture: Supplied.

In all, he made 313 runs at an average of 52, despite Australia losing all of its matches.

Fortunately, he had former West Indian Test player Carl Hooper in his corner as a batting coach.

“He was amazing to me, going over there I probably didn’t have a plan on how to play their spinners in their conditions, and he helped me through and told me to back myself in,” he said.

“Hearing about his stories was pretty unreal as well.

Former Test player Carl Hooper, who previously coached Southern Districts in Adelaide, was a mentor for Peake on the tour of India. Picture: AAP/ Keryn Stevens.

“It was pretty extreme conditions, coming off little to no running it was a bit of a shock to the system.”

Peake said it was simply a dream come true to play cricket in India.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do ... (I) absolutely loved every minute,” he said.

So as the national team goes looking for an opener to replace David Warner against the touring Indians, Peake will make his return to Premier level with the 2-0 Cats against Camberwell on Saturday.

Ollie Peake made two hundreds for Australia's under-19 tour of India. Picture: Supplied.

Then, in December, he will reunite with former Geelong coach Nick Speak when the teen captains Country Victoria at the under-19 national championships in Adelaide.

Incredibly, it’s the third time he’s made the squad.

“He’s taught me a lot over the last two or three seasons, it will be good to have him back,” Peake said of former Cats mentor Speak.

“Hopefully if I can make some runs for Geelong, get a few second XI games for the Vics.

“And just playing a full season of Premier cricket will be good, I think it will be another big summer, so I’m keen for it.”

Fortunately, there’s been next to no residual issues with his leg and ankle, but he still has to take minor precautions.

“I just have to do a few exercises and tape it up .. manage my workload a bit more than I have in the past,” he said.

“I’ve been very lucky to have heaps of people in my corner helping me through recovery

“(Playing in India) wouldn’t have happened without people helping me by my side.”

Peake says he will likely take a gap year in 2025 and focus on cricket, combined with some work.

Ollie Peake before one of Australia’s limited over fixtures. Picture: Supplied.

“I think that will be important to keep some balance in my life too outside of cricket,” he said.

And Peake confirmed his footy days are definitely “done and dusted”.

“I was probably planning on finishing up with footy after Year 12 anyway,” he said.

“Once I got into Year 10 I realised how good the elite footy players were, that wasn’t a path I was going to take.

“I think for three years I haven’t taken footy extremely seriously, I’ve just enjoyed it with school, I was going to hang up the boots up anyway.”

Originally published as Geelong cricket star Ollie Peake overcame a broken leg to play for Australia in India