Willem van der Merwe

Willem Maré van der Merwe (20 July 1960 – 31 March 2025) was a South African orthopaedic surgeon and cricketer. Van der Merwe was a professional cricketer in South Africa from 1978 to 1987, playing predominantly for Orange Free State and Western Province. He later played first-class cricket in England for Oxford University and became a surgeon. He served as president of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS).

Early life and cricket career Van der Merwe was born in Rustenburg in July 1960 and studied medicine at the University of the Free State. He made his debut in first-class cricket for Orange Free State against Griqualand West at Blomfontein in the 1978–79 Castle Bowl. He played first-class cricket for Orange Free State until the 1984–85 Castle Bowl, making 26 appearances. Playing as an all-rounder, he scored 622 runs for Orange Free State, at an average of 19.43 and a high score of 96. With his right-arm medium-fast bowling, he took 93 wickets at a bowling average of 23.76. He took five wickets in an innings on three occasions, with best figures of 5 for 40 against Boland in the 1983–84 Castle Bowl. It was for Orange Free State that he made his debut in List A one-day cricket in the 1981–82 Datsun Shield, with van der Merwe making five List A appearances between the 1981–82 and 1984–85 seasons.

He moved to Western Province for the 1985–86 seasons, playing nine first-class matches for the Western Province B team and making two List A appearances for the main Western Province team.

In March 2025, van der Merwe died of esophageal cancer at the age of 64.