Mcpeake rewarded with Firebirds deal
CRICKET
IAIN McPEAKE’S decision to end a promising hockey career was vindicated with his first professional cricket contract yesterday.
The Hutt District medium-fast bowler was confirmed as Cricket Wellington’s 14th and final contracted player for the coming season and will officially join the payroll on October 1, for a sixmonth retainer of $20,000 plus match fees.
It’s a rapid rise for the 22-yearold whose first sporting love was hockey. He was good enough to make the Junior Black Sticks squad and only began playing competitive cricket as a sixthformer at Hutt International Boys’ School.
A blistering club season when he took 81 wickets, the secondmost in Wellington club history, and some impressive spells to prospective team-mates sealed the deal.
‘‘He trained with the Firebirds for the last three months of last season and he made some really big gains bowling to quality players and getting some very good coaching [from former Wellington paceman Stephen Hotter],’’ said Cricket Wellington’s director of cricket, Robbie Kerr.
‘‘The hockey holds him in good stead; he gives the ball a good clout and he’s exceptionally fit.’’
McPeake flagged away hockey this year and went to England where’s he’s playing club cricket in Cornwall.
Wellington continue to boast a solid core of experienced pacemen in Mark Gillespie, Andy McKay and new bowling coach Brent Arnel, but it’s the level below that the Firebirds usually struggle.
McPeake’s height is an asset and he’s a handful for most club batsmen, but an extra yard of pace could be the key to a successful step up if injuries strike the frontliners.
‘‘In club cricket he gets them through quickly and at first-class level his pace will be good, but players are used to facing that sort of pace all the time. He’s got potential to get quicker but he would certainly be regarded as lively,’’ Kerr said.
The departures of pacemen Tipene Friday, to Auckland, and Scott Kuggeleijn, to Northern Districts, helped McPeake’s cause.
Often criticised for not bringing through promising youngsters, Cricket Wellington did the right thing by securing McPeake and teenage Taita batsman Henry Walsh for their final two contract spots.
With their contracted players locked in, Wellington are close to naming an assistant coach to replace Shane Deitz, but several weeks away from confirming their captain for the coming season.