Tony Price is the first to admit that his teenaged sons are much more talented at sport than him.

Head of the household he may be, but it is difficult for him to argue any other way when you consider that both Joel and Seth, 18 and 16 respectively, have played tennis at Wimbledon, while Seth has also played schoolboy rugby at Twickenham.

Despite their success at these sports, however, it is cricket that has brought the family closest together on the playing field.

All three play for Hatherley and Reddings but father Price, who is preparing for a second season as captain of the club’s 4ths, said: “They are vastly superior to me.”

The 51-year-old opening batsman, who lives with his wife Mary and two sons in Leckhampton, Cheltenham, confesses he is “limited” and “stubborn” at the crease and added: “I’ve got two shots – the forward defensive and the mow to cow corner.”

In contrast he describes both his boys as “shot makers”. Joel, in particular, looks set for a long innings close to the summit of club cricket in Gloucestershire.

Despite his tender years, the right-hander is a regular in Hatherley’s first team and is expected to be one of the club’s leading run-makers in Premier Two Glos/Wilts in 2017.

“He’s batted all over the top five, but he’s probably more of an opener,” says his dad. “He also keeps wicket and is the reserve keeper for the firsts.”

Joel has also passed every cricketing exam thrown at him at his school – Sir Thomas Rich’s in Gloucester. The now final year A-level student hit three centuries last year, becoming the first player to reach three figures at the school for 20 years.

Tony, meanwhile, launched his adult cricketing career in 1996 in the much gentler surroundings of Naunton Park, a Sunday afternoon and midweek side based in Leckhampton, Cheltenham.

It was the first time the long-serving landlord of the Rotunda pub in Montpellier, Cheltenham, had put on a pair of pads since his under-13 schooldays in Oxford but he enjoyed his time at the club so much that he spent 12 years there – much of it as captain – before calling time on “ a fun part of his sporting life”.

Midway through the summer of 2015 he returned to the wicket when Hatherley offered him “a great opportunity to play cricket with my boys”.

It is a decision he hasn’t regretted even though he only played a handful of games with Joel before his obvious talent meant he was summoned to play at a higher level.

Last season Price senior was made captain of Hatherley 4ths and led them to the Gloucester and Forest Division One East title. At his side all the way was Seth, who as well as contributing runs is also a useful medium paced bowler.

This season the 4ths will play in Gloucester and Forest Premier although Tony is enough of a realist to know that Seth will be playing at least one and possibly two levels higher in 2017.

It hasn’t always been cricket for the Price boys. Their first love was tennis and they both took up the sport at the East Gloucestershire Club in Cheltenham at the age of five.

It was a journey that would take them all the way to the junior tournament at Wimbledon in August with Joel qualifying to play at under-13 and under-14 level and Seth playing in the under-14 age group.

“To see the boys playing at Wimbledon was a dream come true,” said their proud dad.

The boys play more golf than tennis these days, something that pleases their dad, who at his best played off 12. “It’s the only sport I can still beat them at,” he grinned.

Football and rugby are also a big part of the Price family’s way of life with Joel a right winger for Leckhampton Rovers in the Cheltenham Football League, while Seth has taken a shine to the oval ball and developed into a very promising fly-half.

“He’s a decent player,” said Tony. “He’s a good runner and in March last year he helped his school, Tommy Rich’s, reach the NatWest Trophy under-15 final at Twickenham.

“It’s one of my big regrets that the final fell in Race Week and I couldn’t get away from work to go and watch him play.”