Leigh CC's third team play mother and son in the same match

History of sorts was created in Liverpool this week, when 47-year-old Helen Smith agreed to play in her son’s team because they were one player short. Leigh Cricket Club’s third team became the first ever side to field a mother and son together in a competitive senior match.

Leigh CC’s match with Highfield in the Liverpool and District Cricket Premier Division was subject to a roadblock, as one of the Leigh players failed to show. Helen had just dropped off her 14-year-old son Luke at the ground, when this unusual proposal was made to her. Her son and the captain of the team approached her to see if she would fill in as the 11th player.

Agreeing readily, she dashed off home to get her cricketing gear and was soon back to take the field alongside her wicket keeper son.

The story of the Smith family is an inspiring one. Helen’s cricket-mad father used to play for Highfield, the opposing side on the day. Her son is the most promising cricketer from the family these days, and Helen herself took up playing cricket two years ago to help with the development of her son’s game. She soon progressed to getting a spot for the Leigh CC women's’ cricket team.

Luke’s father Neil was standing as umpire in the match Leigh CC’s second team were playing on the day.

Helen’s performance for the third team was commended by all in the ground, as she helped to earn a draw against Highfield.

She told Express UK after the match, “I have never heard of a mother and son playing together in a competitive game before and it seems that no-one else has either. It was really good to play with Luke and a very proud day for me. I will always remember it. I just wish my father was present to see this.”

While it is true that mothers and sons turning out for the same team in competitive cricket are much rarer than fathers and sons, there is one incident from last year which deserves special mention in this context – an instance of a father, mother and son all turning out for the same team!

In a club match in Melbourne in February 2015, all three members of the Kermath family played for Craigieburn Cricket Club. Father and son were at the crease when the winning runs were hit as well. This co-incidence had been brought about by club administrators as a special touch. The parents, Sue and Ray, had played together before, and son Mitchell had been available for the match because he had missed the club side’s first team match.

The Kermath family – Ray, Sue and Mitchell.