Band of brothers

Brothers in arms: Endeavour Hills Cricket Club siblings, from left, Neil, Chris, Shane and Matt, have made a big impression at Sydney Pargeter Reserve this summer. 27562 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Marc McGowan
THERE may be an eight-year gap between them, but you’d be hard pressed to find a closer set of brothers than the Peakes at Endeavour Hills Cricket Club.
The four siblings – Neil, 18, Shane, 21, Chris, 24, and Matt, 26 – played their junior cricket at Endeavour Hills and were united at senior level this season.
Wicketkeeper Neil, off-spinner Shane and medium-pacer Chris play in the club’s first XI, and all-rounder Matt captains the seconds.
Neil and Shane still live in the family home at Endeavour Hills, while Chris and Matt reside in Cranbourne North and Narre Warren respectively.
They are yet to play in the same cricket team, but they all pulled on the boots for St John’s Old Collegians Football Club seniors in the D3 section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association in 2008.
Neil is the most accomplished cricketer of the foursome, having represented Victoria at under-15 level and played Hatch and Dowling Shield for the Southern Rangers.
The third-year apprentice plumber also padded up for Victorian Premier Cricket club Richmond last season alongside Hills team-mate Matthew Foenander.
“I’m considering maybe going back to district cricket in the future, but I’ll look for somewhere a bit closer,” Neil said.
“Dandy wanted me to go down there and I might go to Casey, but I’m not sure yet. I’ll just finish this year off.
“I’m loving being back at Endeavour Hills – it’s awesome.
“It’s a bit weird every now and then when your brother’s coming in to bowl and you’re keeping wicket, but it’s good fun.”
Shane, who was named in Endeavour Hills’ team of the decade last month, is enjoying a career-year.
The former Southern Ranger struggled to make the Hills’ first XI squad last season before ultimately playing in the club’s second XI premiership.
“We grew up with it – dad (Garry) used to play footy and cricket. We tried other sports, but nothing compared to cricket and footy,” Shane said.
“There was a bit of a mix-up between me and the coach (Ben Maroney) last year and I didn’t want to go back up in the end, but I’m happy and I’m having a pearler of a year.
“We want to get all four of us in the side to start off with then maybe play in a premiership all together.
“That would be unreal – a great feeling.”
All four brothers speak fondly of their backyard cricket days at the family holiday house in Phillip Island.
Matt was the star back then – he modestly concedes that that was only because he was the oldest – and holds the key to the quartet walking onto the field together.
“It’s a good club all-round, so having my brothers there is a bit extra,” he said.
“We’re all competitive, but not to the extremes. If someone else does something good you’re happy for them.
“I had the option to go up in the last two rounds, but I’ve enjoyed being the captain of the seconds.
“We’re all very young anyway, so down the track maybe it will happen.”
Chris, who works at a sales distribution company with Matt, is similarly keen to see all the brothers in the same side.
“I remember the tantrums (from our backyard cricket days) and I was the worst – I never wanted to get out,” he joked.
“But we’re all pretty close, so it’s pretty good. I think we were all captain of the under-16s when we came through.
“We haven’t all played together in cricket yet, but it’ll happen.”