Percy Fender
Encyclopedia
Percy George Herbert Fender (22 August 1892 in Balham
, London – 15 June 1985 in Exeter
, Devon
) was an English all-round
cricket
er who played 13 Tests
for England
. He was a middle order batsman and bowled mainly leg spin
.
career with Sussex
. He made his debut in 1910, but achieved little at the club and in 1914 moved to Surrey
, where he was to remain for the rest of his time in the game and found much success. He took 84 wickets that season helping Surrey to win the County Championship, and was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
in the Almanack's 1915 edition; when cricket resumed after the war
in 1920 he claimed 124 victims. Between 1921 and 1931 he was the county's captain and made the most of a mediocre attack to force Surrey into Championship
contention on many occasions. Herbert Sutcliffe
wrote in 1935 that he was the best captain that he had known, ahead even of Douglas Jardine
and Brian Sellers
.
In 1921, too, Fender made his England debut, in the third Test against Australia
at Adelaide
in January. He played in the last three Tests on that tour, taking 5–122 in the fourth Test and 5–90, his best figures for England, in the fifth with his leg-spin, but could not save England from being crushed 5–0 in the series, the first of three successive heavy Ashes
series defeats. Domestically, this was the most productive period of his career as he took 157 wickets in 1922 and 178 the year after. In 1922, also, he scored 185 against Hampshire
– with three sixes, three fives and twenty five fours -, the highest of his 21 hundreds. He achieved the double
six times.
At Northampton in 1920, Fender scored a hundred in 35 minutes, still the fastest in first-class cricket scored under 'normal' circumstances, in about 40–46 balls. In the same innings he added 171 with HA Peach in 42 minutes. At Lord's in 1927, he dismissed five Middlesex batsmen in seven balls.
Fender was dropped by England after 1924, but five years later made one final Test appearance, against South Africa
. By now his powers were beginning to wane, and after 1930 he neither took 100 wickets nor averaged more than 30 with the bat. He finished with county cricket after the 1935 season, but played two final games for MCC
against the universities the following year before retiring altogether.
He is the author of several cricket books like Defending the Ashes, The turn of the wheel, The Tests of 1930, Kissing the Rod and The ABC of Cricket, besides being the subject of a fine biography by Richard Streeton
. In 1977, he was the oldest player to attend the Centenary Test
at Melbourne. He was the oldest living Test player when he died on 15 June 1985 in Exeter
, Devon
.
Balham
Balham is a district of London, EnglandBalham can also refer to:*Balham, Ardennes, a commune in France*Balham station, railway and tube station in Balham, London*Balaam, a Biblical figure...
, London – 15 June 1985 in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) was an English all-round
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played 13 Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
. He was a middle order batsman and bowled mainly leg spin
Leg spin
Leg spin is a type of spin bowling in the sport of cricket. A leg spinner bowls right-arm with a wrist spin action, causing the ball to spin from right to left in the cricket pitch, at the point of delivery. When the ball bounces, the spin causes the ball to deviate sharply from right to left, that...
.
Biography
Fender began his first-classFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
career with Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
. He made his debut in 1910, but achieved little at the club and in 1914 moved to Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
, where he was to remain for the rest of his time in the game and found much success. He took 84 wickets that season helping Surrey to win the County Championship, and was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
in the Almanack's 1915 edition; when cricket resumed after the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1920 he claimed 124 victims. Between 1921 and 1931 he was the county's captain and made the most of a mediocre attack to force Surrey into Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
contention on many occasions. Herbert Sutcliffe
Herbert Sutcliffe
Herbert Sutcliffe was an English professional cricketer who represented Yorkshire and England as an opening batsman. Apart from one match in 1945, his first-class career spanned the period between the two World Wars...
wrote in 1935 that he was the best captain that he had known, ahead even of Douglas Jardine
Douglas Jardine
Douglas Robert Jardine was an English cricketer and captain of the England cricket team from 1931 to 1933–34.When describing cricket seasons, the convention used is that a single year represents an English cricket season, while two years represent a southern hemisphere cricket season because it...
and Brian Sellers
Brian Sellers
Arthur Brian Sellers was an English amateur first-class cricketer, who played in 334 first-class matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1932 and 1948, and later became a prominent administrator at the club....
.
In 1921, too, Fender made his England debut, in the third Test against Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
at Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in January. He played in the last three Tests on that tour, taking 5–122 in the fourth Test and 5–90, his best figures for England, in the fifth with his leg-spin, but could not save England from being crushed 5–0 in the series, the first of three successive heavy Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series defeats. Domestically, this was the most productive period of his career as he took 157 wickets in 1922 and 178 the year after. In 1922, also, he scored 185 against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
– with three sixes, three fives and twenty five fours -, the highest of his 21 hundreds. He achieved the double
Double (cricket)
A cricketer is said to achieve the double if he scores a thousand or more runs and also takes a hundred or more wickets in first-class matches during the course of a single season. The feat is extremely rare outside England because of the smaller number of first-class matches played in most other...
six times.
At Northampton in 1920, Fender scored a hundred in 35 minutes, still the fastest in first-class cricket scored under 'normal' circumstances, in about 40–46 balls. In the same innings he added 171 with HA Peach in 42 minutes. At Lord's in 1927, he dismissed five Middlesex batsmen in seven balls.
Fender was dropped by England after 1924, but five years later made one final Test appearance, against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
. By now his powers were beginning to wane, and after 1930 he neither took 100 wickets nor averaged more than 30 with the bat. He finished with county cricket after the 1935 season, but played two final games for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
against the universities the following year before retiring altogether.
He is the author of several cricket books like Defending the Ashes, The turn of the wheel, The Tests of 1930, Kissing the Rod and The ABC of Cricket, besides being the subject of a fine biography by Richard Streeton
Richard Streeton
Richard Marsh Streeton was an English sports journalist, concentrating on cricket.Streeton's father was a manager for HMV and the BBC. Streeton was educated at King's School, Canterbury, before leading a distinguished naval career...
. In 1977, he was the oldest player to attend the Centenary Test
Centenary Test
Centenary Test refers to two matches of Test cricket played between the English cricket team and the Australian cricket team, the first in 1977 and the second in 1980. These matches were played to mark the 100th anniversaries of the first Test cricket matches played in Australia and in England ...
at Melbourne. He was the oldest living Test player when he died on 15 June 1985 in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.