IT WAS a proud moment for both father and son when Max Laing received his first ever Hawkesbury Cricket Club cap.
Max, 10, is the son of club legend Dean, who is both a life and founding member of the club.
Max was picked in the under-11 Hawkesbury representative team, and received his cap from his dad.
Max was thrilled to have his dad hand the cap to him and said he was excited to wear the same uniform his dad did.
‘‘I love my cricket, I think it is a fun, active game. I spend a lot of time playing cricket with my dad,’’ he said.
Max, an all-rounder, said Stephen O’Keefe, who knows Dean from their time playing grade cricket together, was his favourite cricketer.
‘‘Stephen O’Keefe is my favourite player because my dad knows him and I’ve been to his house and he gave me his one-day shirt,’’ he said.
Dean said it was a special moment for him to see his son step up to play representative cricket.
‘‘I’ve played the most games for the club and I’ve scored the most runs for the club,’’ he said.
‘‘This is Max’s first ever rep cap which is a proud moment for me and my family. He is a keen young cricketer. He plays cricket in the backyard like every other normal young kid. He is very keen and he is excited to get the gear like his dad.’’
Dean said he enjoyed spending time bonding with his son over games of cricket in the backyard.
‘‘Someone once told me the best thing with young cricketers is just to play backyard cricket with them,’’ he said.
‘‘We haven’t done a lot of technical stuff together but might when he is a bit older.
‘‘It makes me very proud to see my son playing cricket in the district and is making rep teams.’’
Max received the cap on September 15 at a presentation ceremony hosted by Hawkebsury Cricket Club.
The under-11s, 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s and 16s teams all received their caps from various players and administrators from the club.