BOOKSHELF

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 30

BOOKSHELF

Percy George Herbert Fender to most modern cricketers may simply be a name in “Wisden,” heading the list of those who have scored spectacularly fast centuries in _ first-class cricket. Fender made his remarkable century for Surrey against Northamptonshire in 1920; it took him 35 minutes.

But Fender deserves much more recognition than a line in the records, and a longfelt need has been met by Richard Streeton in “P. G. H. FENDER” (Faber and Faber Ltd, 194 pp. $20.95). The Bradmans and the Hammonds have had their chroniclers and Fender deserves a place in this sort of company, for he was clearly a remarkable man, and a remarkable performer.

He was nearly always a hard hitter, and a clever bowler of leg-breaks and googlies. In a first-class career which began in 1910 and ended in 1936, he made nearly 20,000 runs, including 21 centuries, and took almost 1900 wickets — five in an innings 100 times. He was also an outstandingly good slip fieldsman: in his 557

appearances, Fender held 598 catches — ' very few top players have averaged better than a catch a match.

However, Fender’s principal claim to fame was as a captain. He began to lead his county in 1920, and evidently worked magic with very thin bowling resources. His reputation as a leader was beyond compare, but he led England on remarkably few occasions.

Fender did not enjoy a rapport with the cricket establishment of his day. He was regarded as something of a rebel, because of his unorthodox ways and his outspoken manner. He was adored ,by the cartoonists of his time, because he had distinctively wavy hair, wore spectacles and had the longest pullovers in England, sometimes seemingly designed to keep his kneecaps warm.

He had many remarkable feats on the field, and off it.. Streeton's story of his life is a fascinating study of a brilliant player, a deep thinker about the game, a captain with flair, a successful businessman, a fine allround’ athlete.—R.T.B.