NOTED CRICKETER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25181, 19 April 1945, Page 4

NOTED CRICKETER

VISIT TO AUCKLAND ( " WING-COMMANDER FENDER A former well-known English Test cricketer, Wing-Commander P. G. H. Fender, is at present in Auckland, Wing-Commander Fender, who played for both Sussex and Surrey, had a brilliant "career and he proved one of the best all-round players England has produced. He was in the Royal Flying Corps in the last war and has seen service in this war on operations over France", Belgium and Holland. Speaking of cricket, Mr Fender said he had seen practically none since the outbreak of war. He was convinced, however, that, but for the present hos-' tilities, England would have had in 1940 the best team he had seen in his lifetime. "Apart from Hutton, Hardstaff and Compton, there were some great youngsters." he said. "Wright, of Kent, was a googly bowler of distinct promise, but he was only one of many who, I feel sure, would have gained international honours." The visitor was reminded of the fact that Auckland had had-the services of Sussex professional coaches in A. E. Relf, E. H. Bowley. G. Cox, J. Langridge and A, E. Wensley. He knew them all. '

"My own ideas about coaching," said Mr Fender, "are that the first thing to do is to take a. good look at the chap you are going to coach. Pick out his good points and try to improve upon them. Also pick out, his bad points and try to fine them down to the smallest margin of error. Planning on a machine-made model does not get one anywhere." Wing-Commander Fender's record in English cricket is an outstanding one. He scored over 1000 runs and took over 100 wickets in. 1921-22-23-25-26-28, his best season being in 1923. when he scored 1427 runs and took 178 wickets. Between the seasons 1910 and 1936 he took 1918 wickets at an average of 25.09 runs.

Mr Fender visitfd Australia with the English Test team in 1920-21, and he played against the Australians in England the following season. He toured South Africa in 1922-23 and played against South Africa in England in 1924 and 1929. His aggressiveness as a batsman may be realised from the. fact that in 1*920 he scored 113 for Surrey against Northamptonshire in 42 minutes out of a total of 171. He hit five sixes and 16 fours. He captured five wickets in seven balls for Surrey against Middlesex in 1927.