A good wicketkeeper, Percy Sherwell was born in Natal but brought up in England, playing minor counties cricket for Cornwall before returning to South Africa as a mining engineer. He made his Test debut against England in 1905-06 as captain - he led them in every Test he played - and featured in a dramatic last-wicket stand of 48 which enabled South Africa to snatch a one-wicket win. At Lord's in 1907 he opened the innings, making 115 after South Africa had followed on, and helped to save the game. He ended that series with 154 runs at 30.80, the highest aggregate for his side. He subsequently led South Africa when they toured Australia in 1910-11. From 1907 to 1924 he was a Test selector. Sherwell was also an international tennis player, representing South Africa against England in 1909-10, and also won the domestic singles title in 1904.
Martin Williamson

In his first Test match, Percy Sherwell led South Africa to their first victory in Test cricket when they beat England by one wicket at Johannesburg in January 1906. Sherwell, going in last, made 22 not out and helped Dave Nourse (93 not out) score 48 for the last wicket, hitting Relf for four to win the match. Sherwell captained South Africa in all of his 13 Test appearances, winning the 1905-06 series against England 4-1, losing the three-match series in England 0-1 (he scored 115 at Lord's), and losing 1-4 in Australia in 1910-11, when South Africa at Adelaide secured their first-ever win over Australia. In Tests he caught 22 batsmen and stumped 16, and allowed very few byes. He was South African tennis champion in 1904.
David Frith