Originally a left-arm spinner, Van der Merwe became a dependable middle-order batsman and was also one of several outstanding fielders for South Africa in the 1960s, Sport24 reports.

Van der Merwe captained South Africa in eight Test matches, leading the team to a series victory in England in 1965 and then leading them to South Africa’s first ever series victory over Australia at home in the summer of 1966/67, the paper said.