Career
A middle-order batsman, Cheetham captained South Africa in 15 Test matches, and led the side to a drawn series in Australia in 1952-1953, victories away and at home to New Zealand in the 1952-1953 season and the 1953-1954 season, and a narrow 3-2 defeat in England in 1955. He played for Western Province from 1939-1940 to 1954-1955. Five days later Eric Rowan took the record from him, with 277 not out for Transvaal against Griqualand West.
Rodney Hartman said of him: "Cheetham, the archetype gentleman, embodied the best virtues of sportsmanship and human endeavour, and was always held up as the ideal kind of man to captain his country."
He served in the Middle East during the Second World War.
He graduated from the University of Cape Town and worked as an engineer for the construction company Murray & Roberts and later as a director After he died, the company instituted the Jack Cheetham Memorial Award to recognise those who have done outstanding work promoting sport in disadvantaged communities.