{{short description|Argentine cricketer and educator}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = | image = | country = Argentina | fullname = Jack Francis Mendl | birth_date = 6 December 1911 | birth_place = Hurlingham, Buenos Aires,<br>Argentina | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2001|10|27|1911|12|6}} | death_place = Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland | nickname = | family = Derek Mendl (brother) | batting = Right-handed | bowling = | role = | club1 = Oxfordshire | year1 = 1939–1955 | club2 = Minor Counties | year2 = 1949 | club3 = Scotland | year3 = 1953–1955 | club4 = Marylebone Cricket Club | year4 = 1957 | columns = 1 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 7 | runs1 = 269 | bat avg1 = 24.45 | 100s/50s1 = –/2 | top score1 = 65 | hidedeliveries = true | catches/stumpings1 = –/– | date = 14 June | year = 2019 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/25300.html Cricinfo }}

'''Jack Francis Mendl''' (6 December 1911 – 27 October 2001) was a first-class cricketer and educator.

Mendl was born in the Buenos Aires suburb of Hurlingham, where his father was a grain trader.<ref name="NEWS">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1366348/Jack-Mendl.html|title=Jack Mendl|date=27 December 2001|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref> He was sent to England, along with his brother Derek Mendl, where the two were educated at Repton School.<ref name="NEWS"/> From Repton he went up to University College, Oxford to study English and history.<ref name="SCOT">{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/jack-mendl-1-582545|title=Jack Mendl|date=1 November 2001|work=The Scotsman|accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref> He was denied the opportunity to play first-class cricket for Oxford University due to a skiing accident.<ref name="NEWS"/> He debuted in minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire in the 1939 Minor Counties Championship.<ref name="MCM">{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27100/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html |title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Jack Mendl |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref> He served with the South Wales Borderers in the Second World War, enlisting as a second lieutenant.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35040|date=10 January 1941|page=254|supp=y}}</ref>

He began teaching at the Dragon School in Oxford in 1945, and for the next decade he opened the batting for Oxfordshire during the summer holidays.<ref name="NEWS"/> He made 76 appearances for the county in Minor Counties Championship,<ref name="FCM"/> scoring 5,541 runs at an average of 50.83, with the Oxfordshire player Joe Banton considering him the greatest batsman to have represented the county.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6602569.mendl-oxons-greatest-batsman-dies-aged-89/|title=Mendl – 'Oxon's greatest batsman' – dies aged 89|date=8 January 2002|work=Oxford Mail|accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref> He made his debut in first-class cricket when he was selected to play for the Minor Counties cricket team against Yorkshire at Lord's in 1949.<ref name="FCM">{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/27/27100/First-Class_Matches.html |title=First-Class Matches played by Jack Mendl |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref> He accepted a teaching post in Scotland at the Edinburgh Academy in 1950.<ref name="NEWS"/> He made four first-class appearances for Scotland between 1953 and 1955, as well as appearing a first-class match for the Marylebone Cricket Club ''against'' Scotland at Aberdeen in 1957.<ref name="FCM"/> His most notable innings for Scotland came against Derbyshire, when he scored 65 of Scotland's 100 runs total.<ref name="NEWS"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21088.html |title=Derbyshire v Scotland, 1954 |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=14 June 2019}}</ref>

He taught at the Edinburgh Academy until his retirement in 1977, serving as a housemaster of Dundas House from 1962 to 1965 and Mackenzie House from 1965 to 1972.<ref name="SCOT"/> Following his retirement, Mendl remained in the Trinity area of Edinburgh and became a keen golfer.<ref name="SCOT"/> Mendl died at Edinburgh in October 2001.<ref name="NEWS"/> He was survived by his wife Betty, whom he had met shortly after arriving at the Edinburgh Academy and married in 1952, and their two children.<ref name="SCOT"/> He was also Chairman of the Cricket Society of Scotland prior to Fraser Simm.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=25300}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mendl, Jack}} Category:1911 births Category:2001 deaths Category:Sportspeople from Buenos Aires Province Category:Argentine emigrants to England Category:People educated at Repton School Category:Alumni of University College, Oxford Category:Argentine cricketers Category:Oxfordshire cricketers Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:South Wales Borderers officers Category:Argentine educators Category:Minor Counties cricketers Category:Scotland cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers