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Percy Fender

Percy Fender
Headshot of a moustached man
Personal information
Full name Percy George Herbert Fender
Born (1892-08-22)22 August 1892
Balham, London, United Kingdom
Died 15 June 1985(1985-06-15) (aged 92)
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Nickname Mossy
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right arm medium pace/Leg spin
Role All-rounder
Relations Percy Herbert (uncle)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 187) 14 January 1921 v Australia
Last Test 15 June 1929 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years Team
1920–1936 MCC
1914–1935 Surrey
1910–1913 Sussex
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 13 557
Runs scored 380 19034
Batting average 19.00 26.65
100s/50s 0/2 21/103
Top score 60 185
Balls bowled 2178 95428
Wickets 29 1894
Bowling average 40.86 25.05
5 wickets in innings 2 100
10 wickets in match 0 16
Best bowling 5/90 8/24
Catches/stumpings 14/0 602/0
Source: CricketArchive, 27 January 2009

Percy George Herbert Fender (22 August 1892 – 15 June 1985) was an English cricketer who played 13 Tests and was captain of Surrey between 1921 and 1931. An all-rounder, he was a middle-order batsman who bowled mainly leg spin, and completed the cricketer's double seven times. Noted as a belligerent batsman, in 1920 he hit the fastest recorded first-class century, reaching three figures in 35 minutes which remains a record in 2016. On the basis of his Surrey captaincy, contemporaries judged him the best captain in England.

As early as 1914 Fender was named one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year. After war service in the Royal Flying Corps he re-established himself in the Surrey team and became captain in 1921. His captaincy inspired the team to challenge strongly for the County Championship over the course of several seasons, despite a shortage of effective bowlers. Alongside his forceful though sometimes controversial leadership, Fender was an effective performer with bat and ball, although he lacked support as a bowler. From 1921, he played occasionally in Tests for England but was never particularly successful. Despite press promptings, he was never appointed Test captain, and following a clash with the highly influential Lord Harris in 1924, his England career was effectively ended. Further disagreements between Fender and the Surrey committee over his approach and tactics led the county to replace him as captain in 1932 and to end his career in 1935.

A very recognisable figure, Fender was popular with his team and with supporters. Cartoonists enjoyed caricaturing his distinctive appearance, but he was also well known outside cricket for his presence in society. In addition to his cricket career, Fender worked in the wine trade, had a successful career in journalism, and wrote several well-received books on cricket tours. He worked well into the 1970s, even after going blind. He died in 1985.


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