Percy Mansell

Percy Neville Frank Mansell MBE (16 March 1920 – 9 May 1995^[1]) was a Rhodesian cricketer who played in thirteen Tests for South Africa from 1951 to 1955. Mansell was a bespectacled middle-order batsman, slips fieldsman, and leg-break and googly bowler who sometimes bowled medium-pace.

Percy Mansell

The South African touring team in 1952–53. Mansell is seated at the right.
Personal information
Full name	Percy Neville Frank Mansell
Born	(1920-03-16)16 March 1920 St George's, Shropshire, England
Died	9 May 1995(1995-05-09) (aged 75) Somerset West, Cape Province, South Africa
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Leg-break googly
International information
National side	South Africa
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 13 113 Runs scored 355 4598 Batting average 17.75 29.66 100s/50s 0/2 5/33 Top score 90 154 Balls bowled 1506 18176 Wickets 11 299 Bowling average 66.90 26.08 5 wickets in innings 0 21 10 wickets in match 0 5 Best bowling 3/58 7/43 Catches/stumpings 15/- 156/-
Source: Cricinfo

Background

Born in England, Mansell moved to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as an infant. He was educated at Milton High School and first played first-class cricket for Rhodesia at the age of 16 against Transvaal in 1936–37.

Career

He represented Rhodesia 55 times before retiring after the 1961–62 season, having played his last match just before his 42nd birthday.^[2]

His best first-class bowling figures were 7 for 43 (13 for 120 in the match) in Rhodesia's two-run victory over the touring Surrey team in 1959–60.^[3] His two highest scores were 148 and 154, which he made in Rhodesia's two innings victories over Griqualand West in the B Section of the Currie Cup in 1955–56.^[4]

After retiring from the game he served as a cricket administrator in Rhodesia. He was awarded the MBE "for services to cricket in Southern Rhodesia" in the 1962 New Year Honours.^[5]