Why Victorian teenager Ollie Peake may play for Australia’s Test cricket team this year
“If he finishes really well this season, I think the Australian selectors can take advantage of the opportunity,” Rogers told SEN Radio from the Bangladesh Tests.
“I know they’ve got their eye on him. But he’s already faced a few challenges in the first-class system. You expect the standard from a young player to be very high, so it’ll be interesting to see how he goes.”
Peake, a classy left-hander, hits a shot from offside against England.Credit: ICC via Getty Images
“So whether it’s in this series or in the mid-term future, I think it’s something we’re pretty confident will happen.
“But it’ll be down to him and seeing the growth he’s shown and whether he can get back into Shield cricket in the high-pressure games in the final part of the season. If he can score runs, I think he’ll show the selectors he’s ready for it.”
Peake has so far displayed numerous examples of batting acumen well beyond most of his contemporaries; Whether it was hosting Victoria against South Australia on the rotating pitch at Adelaide Oval or bringing home victory against Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League with the last six balls.
Rogers said Peake’s displays in Zimbabwe would increase the sense that he has the awareness of the game to step into international cricket soon, provided he scores big at provincial level.
“When you’re a big player and there are expectations on you, it can be pretty intimidating and just play with your mind a little bit,” Rogers said.
“But for him to go out there and score, get the job done and do it so well, it really suits his shoulders and I think there’s a captain there in terms of higher honours.
“We’ve talked about his game awareness and intelligence, which really stands out. So it’s also difficult to go and do that and keep track of a hundred people in total. That’s when you know there’s scoreboard pressure and you’ve got to get the job done.
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“The pressure can come on and you can make mistakes, but these are the players who can think clearly, make the right decisions at the right time and solve problems – those are the players who stand out.
“He was under tremendous pressure and made the right decisions. It’s something you can’t teach, I think it’s something that comes naturally and I hope he has that for the rest of his career.”
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