Rising star Ollie Peake on his whirlwind journey and learning from Australian idols

Victoria wanted Ollie Peake to put cricket aside and spend a few days with friends late in the Sheffield Shield season.

Peake started the summer with just three professional matches under his belt but by March had quickly accumulated nearly 30.

There was an opportunity to rest him after a head knock and it aligned perfectly with best mate Lachie Jacques making his AFL debut for Western Bulldogs.

But emblematic of the go-getting Peake, he felt guilty for switching off mid-season and organised a net session with a club side in Queensland.

The plan reached Victorian coach Chris Rogers who, according to Peake, “heavily advised” him to lock the kit bag away.

“I was thinking about it, I was in communication with my under-19s teammate Charlie Lachmund,” Peake said.

“I was going to go and have a hit at his club training because I felt a bit bad. The boys were playing a Shield game in Tassie and thought I should be doing some work.

“But no, Buck (Rogers) heavily advised me not to do that and said there was going to be plenty of time to train.

“I packed the cricket kit away and focused on my mate’s debut, that was one of the great weekends.

“(Buck) was saying if things are going the way you want them to go, you’re going to have plenty of time away from home – it’s good to make sure you stay personable and in check with your mates.”

Peake joined the Australian camp for its white-ball series not long after and made his international debut in May against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

The left-hander played four One Day International matches in difficult conditions, rubbing shoulders with and learning from the players he idolised.

“Probably from the international stint I learned quite a bit about the mental side of the game and controlling emotions,” Peake said.

“It was definitely a new thing, mixing in with guys you’ve idolised growing up. You’re playing alongside them, fielding next to them and not wanting to let them down.