John Erskine Cheetham (26 May 1920 – 21 August 1980) was a South African cricketer who played in 24 Test matches between 1949 and 1955, captainingSouth Africa in his last 15 Test matches. He later served as president of the South African Cricket Association.
He played for Western Province from 1939–40 to 1954–55. Playing against Orange Free State in December 1951 he scored 271 not out,[1] which was the highest score ever made in the Currie Cup. Five days later Eric Rowan took the record from him, with 277 not out for Transvaal against Griqualand West.[2]
Rodney Hartman said of him: "Cheetham, the archetype gentleman, embodied the best virtues of sportsmanship and human endeavour, and was always held up as the ideal kind of man to captain his country."[3]
Cricket administrationedit
Cheetham became an administrator, rising to serve as president of the South African Cricket Association (SACA) in 1969. A popular and efficient administrator, he "was not a particularly political person", and found himself caught up in the political mess that began to damage South African cricket at the time.[4]
During the D'Oliveira affair in 1968, when Cheetham was vice-president of the SACA, the apartheid regime used him as an emissary to the MCC in their efforts to ensure that Basil D'Oliveira, a South African-born mixed-race cricketer, would not be picked to represent England on the forthcoming tour of South Africa. At the time the SACA supported segregation of all sport, as required by the regime. On arrival in England Cheetham delivered a letter from the SACA which promised nothing on D'Oliveira, and he was then used by the MCC to deliver a message back to South Africa that "the MCC would do almost anything to see that the tour is on".[5]
In late 1969, eager for South Africa to continue as a Test-playing nation, Cheetham announced that in future all South African teams would be selected on merit, regardless of race. His statement was immediately repudiated by the Prime Minister, John Vorster, in his New Year's address.[6] Cheetham continued to strive unsuccessfully to find a way to make South African cricket acceptable to the rest of the cricket-playing nations until he retired from the presidency in 1972.[7]
Outside cricketedit
Cheetham served in the Middle East during the Second World War.[8] He graduated from the University of Cape Town and worked as an engineer for the construction company Murray & Roberts and later as a director. After he died, the company instituted the Jack Cheetham Memorial Award to recognise those who have done outstanding work promoting sport in disadvantaged communities.[9]
Books by Cheethamedit
Caught by the Springboks (1953) (about the South African tour of Australia and New Zealand, 1952–53)
I Declare (1956) (about the South African tour of England, 1955)
Referencesedit
^Orange Free State v Western Province 1950–51. Cricketarchive.com. Retrieved on 21 May 2018.
^Rodney Hartman, Ali: The Life of Ali Bacher, Penguin, Johannesburg, 2006, p. 47.
^Bruce Murray and Christopher Merrett, Caught Behind: Race and Politics in Springbok Cricket, Wits University Press and University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, Johannesburg and Scottsville, 2004, p. 136.
^Peter Oborne, Basil D'Oliveira, Cricket and Conspiracy: The Untold Story, pp. 148, 152.
jack, cheetham, john, erskine, cheetham, 1920, august, 1980, south, african, cricketer, played, test, matches, between, 1949, 1955, captaining, south, africa, last, test, matches, later, served, president, south, african, cricket, association, cheetham, 1952pe. John Erskine Cheetham 26 May 1920 21 August 1980 was a South African cricketer who played in 24 Test matches between 1949 and 1955 captaining South Africa in his last 15 Test matches He later served as president of the South African Cricket Association Jack CheethamCheetham in 1952Personal informationFull nameJohn Erskine CheethamBorn 1920 05 26 26 May 1920Cape Town South AfricaDied21 August 1980 1980 08 21 aged 60 Johannesburg South AfricaBattingRight handedBowlingLegbreakInternational informationNational sideSouth AfricaTest debut5 March 1949 v EnglandLast Test13 August 1955 v EnglandCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 24 108Runs scored 883 5 697Batting average 23 86 42 20100s 50s 0 5 8 33Top score 89 271 Balls bowled 6 613Wickets 0 8Bowling average 47 005 wickets in innings 010 wickets in match 0Best bowling 2 38Catches stumpings 13 66 Source Cricinfo 12 August 2021 Contents 1 Cricket playing career 2 Cricket administration 3 Outside cricket 4 Books by Cheetham 5 References 6 External linksCricket playing career editA middle order batsman Cheetham captained South Africa from 1952 to 1955 leading them to a drawn series in Australia in 1952 53 victories away and at home to New Zealand in the 1952 53 season and the 1953 54 season and a narrow 3 2 defeat in England in 1955 He played for Western Province from 1939 40 to 1954 55 Playing against Orange Free State in December 1951 he scored 271 not out 1 which was the highest score ever made in the Currie Cup Five days later Eric Rowan took the record from him with 277 not out for Transvaal against Griqualand West 2 Rodney Hartman said of him Cheetham the archetype gentleman embodied the best virtues of sportsmanship and human endeavour and was always held up as the ideal kind of man to captain his country 3 Cricket administration editCheetham became an administrator rising to serve as president of the South African Cricket Association SACA in 1969 A popular and efficient administrator he was not a particularly political person and found himself caught up in the political mess that began to damage South African cricket at the time 4 During the D Oliveira affair in 1968 when Cheetham was vice president of the SACA the apartheid regime used him as an emissary to the MCC in their efforts to ensure that Basil D Oliveira a South African born mixed race cricketer would not be picked to represent England on the forthcoming tour of South Africa At the time the SACA supported segregation of all sport as required by the regime On arrival in England Cheetham delivered a letter from the SACA which promised nothing on D Oliveira and he was then used by the MCC to deliver a message back to South Africa that the MCC would do almost anything to see that the tour is on 5 In late 1969 eager for South Africa to continue as a Test playing nation Cheetham announced that in future all South African teams would be selected on merit regardless of race His statement was immediately repudiated by the Prime Minister John Vorster in his New Year s address 6 Cheetham continued to strive unsuccessfully to find a way to make South African cricket acceptable to the rest of the cricket playing nations until he retired from the presidency in 1972 7 Outside cricket editCheetham served in the Middle East during the Second World War 8 He graduated from the University of Cape Town and worked as an engineer for the construction company Murray amp Roberts and later as a director After he died the company instituted the Jack Cheetham Memorial Award to recognise those who have done outstanding work promoting sport in disadvantaged communities 9 Books by Cheetham editCaught by the Springboks 1953 about the South African tour of Australia and New Zealand 1952 53 I Declare 1956 about the South African tour of England 1955 References edit Orange Free State v Western Province 1950 51 Cricketarchive com Retrieved on 21 May 2018 Wisden 1952 p 890 Rodney Hartman Ali The Life of Ali Bacher Penguin Johannesburg 2006 p 47 Bruce Murray and Christopher Merrett Caught Behind Race and Politics in Springbok Cricket Wits University Press and University of KwaZulu Natal Press Johannesburg and Scottsville 2004 p 136 Peter Oborne Basil D Oliveira Cricket and Conspiracy The Untold Story pp 148 152 Murray and Merrett Caught Behind pp 141 42 Murray and Merrett Caught Behind pp 170 71 ABC Cricket Book South Africans Tour 1952 53 ABC Sydney 1952 p 9 Against the Odds Retrieved 2 February 2013 External links editJack Cheetham at ESPNcricinfo Wisden obituary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jack Cheetham amp oldid 1198713281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
