Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes has revealed his pride after seeing son George make a successful debut for Worcestershire Rapids and admitted he was more nervous than the young all-rounder!
Rhodes junior was given his chance in the Royal London One-Day Cup against Yorkshire Rapids at Headingley and finished with 2-34 from 10 overs – all bowled in one spell.
He is the third generation of his family to play first team cricket at county level after grandfather Billy and father Steve.
Steve Rhodes, whose side won in front of the Sky Sports cameras for the third time this summer, said: "He has done really well. I'm very proud of him. We had a game on Sunday (against Derbyshire) and I actually voted against playing him.
"I went for the seamer and the seamer didn't bowl as well.
"We brought him in today and as long as the wicket was a decent one or dryish, we were going to play him and I was really proud with the way he bowled.
"He was nervous but he started well and managed to keep that going and the early wicket settled him.
"But I'm pretty sure I was far more nervous than he was. He's had a good start."
Steve Rhodes added: "It is hard for him because he probably gets it tougher than all the other players on the staff because he is my son.
"But he is used to that now and he knows he has got to do it the hard way."
George Rhodes said: "I'm glad the first ball landed but once I got over the first over it was good and I really enjoyed it.
"It couldn't have gone better really. I'm just happy it worked out today."
Yorkshire were bowled out for 170 and then Joe Leach was promoted to open and hit a List A best score of 63 during an opening stand of 107 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (42) as the Rapids won by seven wickets.
Steve Rhodes said: "It was a late decision to put Joe in upfront. We felt knocking a big hole out of that total was the best way of going about it.
"With Leachy and Tom smacking it from both ends, that proved very difficult to defend. We rode our luck but we hit plenty in the middle."
Leach said: "There wasn't much culture in it but it came off luckily. I just stood there and tried to whack it to be honest and luckily it came off."
Leach and Jack Shantry had also set the tone with the ball in a tight opening spell before Rhodes and Brett D'Oliveira kept the Vikings on a tight rein.
Steve Rhodes said: "There was a little bit of stoppiness in the wicket which did help Leachy and Shants, a little bit of seam movement, but both of them bowled a very tight line.
"I'm just delighted for the boys. They've worked really hard. We've had a tough week actually.
"We sneaked a win but we lost a couple and to get back on the horse with a performance like that is tremendous."
Skipper Daryl Mitchell said: "We were disappointed to lose the first game against Derbyshire. We didn't bowl or field particularly well but I thought we were excellent during the first half here.
"I think 240 would have been a difficult chase and thought Adi Rashid would be difficult in those middle overs so we tried to win the game before it got to him really and Leachy played a fantastic knock at the top along with Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
"We highlighted the fact the ball tends to come on a bit better in the first 10 overs and Leachy strikes the ball better than me so we thought we'd take it on and threw him upfront."