Three generations of the Pritchard family play in the same team

Helping cover a shortage of players, Arthur Pritchard, 74, played with son Heath and grandson Lachlan – and top scored with 66 not out.

Family affair: Heath, Lachlan and Arthur Pritchard playing for the for the Eynesbury Third XI.

Arthur Pritchard, 74, came in at No 5.

His grandson Lachlan, 14, was at No 6.

And Arthur’s son Heath, 43, batted at No 7 as three generations of a cricketing family turned out in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association on Saturday.

The Pritchards played for the Eynesbury Third XI, coming together for the first time to help the team overcome a shortage of numbers.

Lachlan is in his first year with the club’s Under 15s and has also moved into senior cricket.

A few weeks ago the side was short and Heath, a former star of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association, came out of retirement to play with his son.

They had a ball.

Ahead of Saturday Eynesbury was light on again and so Arthur Pritchard was included to play with his son and grandson.

Arthur Pritchard as an Australian Over 70s player.

Like Heath a former leading Sub-District cricketer, Pritchard senior is still playing competitive cricket, in the Over 60s competition for Essendon. He’s also the captain of the Australian Over 70s team.

“He loves cricket. Always has and still does,’’ Heath said of his father.

And on Saturday the right-hander almost scored enough runs to match his age, hitting 66 not out, with 2 sixes, in a team total of 9-179 against Gisborne.

More satisfying for him, he got to bat with Lachlan, who was batting well until he swished at a wide one and was caught behind for five.

Heath pulled a ball to mid-wicket and was out for seven.

It was the first time had played with his father, who is a life member of Melton Cricket Club and a Veterans Cricket Australia Hall of Fame inductee.

Heath Pritchard bowling for Melton.

Heath said he appreciated the support of Eynesbury.

“The club appreciated the rarity of the whole thing, and facilitated all three of us playing together, which was awesome,’’ he said.

“Not only that, with the batting order, it meant we were going to bat with each other in some shape or form.’’

Asked if the three Pritchards would be teammates again, he said: “The last thing either of us would want to do is take the place of a kid or have someone miss out on a game of cricket.

“If the situation arose again I’m sure we would be happy enough to put our hands up. We would never club short, put it that way. It’s Lachie’s cricket club, which means we support the club.’’