Nicky Peng - a brief profile by Andrew Hignell

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Player:

N Peng

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DateLine: 9th April 2006

 

Nicky Peng attended the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, and from an early age, showed immense promise as a cricketer. In May 2000 he made his debut as a seventeen-year old in the County Championship for Durham, and he marked his first appearance with a brutal innings of 98 against a star-studded Surrey attack at the Riverside ground. The youngster faced just 145 balls, and struck 17 boundaries as he became the youngest batsman ever to appear in Championship cricket for Durham.

 

A bright future was being predicted for young batsman as he played for England Under 19 against Sri Lanka in 2000, before touring India with the Under 19 party in 2000/01 and then playing in the youth Tests against the West Indies Under 19 in 2001.

 

The following winter, he attended the National Academy, but he subsequently lost form, and played in just nine of Durham`s Championship matches in 2005. At the end of the season, he agreed terms with Glamorgan, and moved to South Wales on a two-year deal.

 

Nicky injured his back and missed the second part of the 2006 season, but he returned to 1st XI action in 2007 and played as an opening batsman in the early one-day matches, as well as subsequently some of the four-day matches as well.

 

However, in mid-July he announced his intention to stop playing first-class county cricket with immediate effect, saying " during the course of this season I have lost both confidence and belief in my ability despite the fact that I am trying 100% for Glamorgan and myself."

 

"It is not working for me or for the team and consequently I have stopped enjoying the game. I feel at this moment that it is best for me to play no more cricket and to have a break from the mind games which have affected me. I wish all of the players and everyone at Glamorgan only good things and my gratitude for their understanding."

 

(July 2007)

(Article: Copyright © 2007 Dr.A.K.Hignell)