This Easter, besides the sound of wedding bells, the only noise Peter Forrest wishes to hear is the crack of leather on willow accompanied by Calypso steel drums.
With his determined 66, Forrest, 26 years old, is solidifying his chance for selection for the national team’s upcoming tour to the Caribbean in March-April.
However, being selected would require him to postpone his wedding with his fiancée, Rachel Barker.
“The team’s not even picked yet so that’s a long way down the track,” Forrest remarked.
“But…if I keep scoring runs and get selected, we’ll make that tough choice when the time comes.”
“I’m pretty sure if I do get chosen, there’s only one thing to do… I’m definitely going to the West Indies,” he added, chuckling.
Forrest, an aspiring rugby league player who competed in junior football against Brisbane Broncos halfback Peter Wallace before switching to cricket, relocated from NSW to Queensland this summer to gain more time at the crease.
He can enhance his chances for the West Indies if selectors decide to keep him on for Friday’s one-day international against Sri Lanka in Hobart.
Having jumped on a plane back to Brisbane at 6:15 am on Monday, Forrest noted that his 66-run debut, which drew praise from captain Michael Clarke, had not yet truly sunk in.
“Yesterday was an amazing day, and one I’ll always remember,” he expressed.
While most players would be thrilled with a half-century in their international debut, Forrest mentioned that the close loss somewhat overshadowed his special day.
“It’s a team sport, and we needed a win,” he stated.
“It felt good to contribute, but it would have been much better had I scored 80 plus or a hundred and helped the team achieve a win.”
Despite the heightened pressure of the occasion and receiving his cap from Ricky Ponting, Forrest maintained composure and a strong mindset.
“The way I approach my game for Queensland is by scrapping around and doing it my way, and thankfully that strategy paid off,” he shared regarding his debut performance.
Forrest has made some technical adjustments to enhance his batting, but he believes that knowing he has a permanent spot in Queensland’s team is key to his confident batting, which has already earned him three centuries this summer.
by Buford Balony
