DANNY Benaim, better known as a Wedderburn football legend, took to the cricket pitch on Saturday – entirely under false pretenses.
“They stitched me up,” Benaim said of his Wedderburn Band teammates. “They told me it was a T20 game, and it would be over in a couple of hours.”
In fact, it was a one-day clash against Bridgewater, but whatever the format, Benaim was going to remember the match for one important reason – he was playing his first game with 11-year-old son Jagger.
The Benaims batted together, compiling a 16-run partnership in three and a bit overs before Jagger popped up a catch. 
Benaim junior, his dad said, was obsessed with cricket, having played juniors at Maiden Gully since he was seven.
“It’s pretty cool,” the 40-year-old said of the chance to play with his son.
“People are expecting me to hang around to play footy with him, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
For the record, Benaim will pull on the boots again for the Redbacks next year, so who knows?
Benaim said his own cricket career had come in fits and starts, squeezed in around football commitments as far afield as Darwin, where the footy season is played at the same time of year as cricket in the south.
Danny more than played his part in Wedderburn’s win, smashing 44 not out and taking two wickets, while Jagger impressed with 1-20 from seven overs and seven runs including a fine boundary.
- GARY WALSH