David Sheppard - Early Cricket Career 1950-56

Early Cricket Career 1950-56

Sheppard was born in Reigate, Surrey, the son of a solicitor, and educated at Sherborne School, Dorset, where his cricketing talent first emerged. After National Service as a second lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment, he then went up to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and played for Cambridge University (blue 1950, 1951 and 1952; captain 1952), Sussex (captain 1953) and England. He toured as an undergraduate with Freddie Brown in 1950-51 without success. In 1952 he topped the English batting averages, scoring 2,262 runs at an average of 64.62, including a record 1,281 runs and 7 centuries for Cambridge University. His career total for Cambridge University, 3,545, was also a record. He hit 1,000 runs in a season six times, reaching 2,000 three times (highest 2,270, average 45.40, in 1953). He hit three double centuries, one for Sussex and two for Cambridge University (highest 239 not out for Cambridge University v Worcestershire at Worcester in 1952).

As a result he was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1953. In 1954 he captained England in two Tests Pakistan in the absence of Len Hutton. He won one Test and drew the other, but the series ended in a 1-1 draw. Sheppard was a favourite with the Old Guard at Lords, who had wanted him to captain the tour of Australia in 1954-55 instead of the Yorkshire professional, but this came to naught. Sheppard was already progressing his clerical career and declined to tour unless required as a captain. In 1956 he was recalled to play Australia and made 113 in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, where Jim Laker famously took 19 wickets and England won by an innings.