first innings to 197 for 7; van der Merwe scored 42, and again led South Africa to victory. In the Second Test in 1965 a partnership of 98 with Graeme Pollock rescued South Africa in the first innings from 80 for 5; van der Merwe made 38, and South Africa won the match by 94 runs. He was also a fine fielder. Wisden's report of the 1965 series ranked him as equal second (with Tiger Lance) in the team after Colin Bland 'for general brilliance in the field'. He led South Africa in eight Tests, winning four and losing one. The victory over Australia in 1966–67 was South Africa's first series victory against Australia. After the series he retired from Test cricket at the age of 29. Christopher Martin-Jenkins described him as 'a thoughtful and shrewd captain who inspired a zealous team-spirit'. The first player of Afrikaner background to captain South Africa, he wrote the Afrikaans cricket book Wenkrieket So Word Dit Gespeel in 1967. He later became a match referee. Van der Merwe died in Port Elizabeth in January 2013, aged 75, having been in poor health prior to his death. References External links Peter van der Merwe at CricketArchive Peter van der Merwe at ESPNcricinfo 1937 births 2013 deaths Afrikaner people Alumni of St. Andrew's College, Grahamstown Cricket match referees Eastern Province cricketers Cricketers from Paarl South African cricket administrators South Africa Test cricket captains South African cricketers Alumni of Paul Roos Gymnasium South Africa Test cricketers University of Cape Town alumni Western Province cricketers South African Universities cricketers