Percy Fender

Percy Fender

Fender on a 1922 cigarette card
Personal information
Full name	Percy George Herbert Fender
Born	(1892-08-22)22 August 1892 Balham, London, England
Died	15 June 1985(1985-06-15) (aged 92) Exeter, Devon, England
Nickname	Mossy
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium Leg spin
Role	All-rounder
Relations	Percy Herbert (uncle)
International information
National side	England
Test debut (cap 187)	14 January 1921 v Australia
Last Test	15 June 1929 v South Africa
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1910–1913	Sussex
1914–1935	Surrey
1920–1936	MCC
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 13 557 Runs scored 380 19,034 Batting average 19.00 26.65 100s/50s 0/2 21/103 Top score 60 185 Balls bowled 2,178 95,428 Wickets 29 1,894 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: ESPNCricinfo, 27 January 2009

Percy George Herbert Fender (22 August 1892 – 15 June 1985) was an English cricketer who played 13 Tests for his country 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 only 35 minutes, which remains a record as of 2024. 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, the amiable Fender was very 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 bohemian 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 continued working well into the 1970s, even after going blind. He died in 1985 at the age of 92.