OTD 1929: Who Was David Sheppard, the First Ordained Minister to Play Test Cricket?

On March 6, 1929, David Stuart Sheppard was born in Reigate. Brought up in Charlwood, Surrey, he would go on to carve a unique path in both sport and faith, becoming the only ordained minister to have played Test cricket. A distinguished figure in the Church of England, Sheppard later served as Bishop of Liverpool from 1975 to 1997, but before his clerical prominence, he enjoyed an accomplished cricketing career with Sussex County Cricket Club and England.

Sheppard represented Cambridge University from 1950 to 1952, captaining the side in his final year. He succeeded to the Sussex captaincy in 1953. His Test debut came against the West Indies cricket team in August 1950, after heavy scoring for Cambridge against the tourists earlier that summer. He also toured Australia in 1950-51 under Freddie Brown, though with limited success.

The 1952 season proved exceptional. Sheppard topped the English batting averages with 2,262 runs at 64.62, including a remarkable 1,531 runs and seven centuries for Cambridge, both records at the time. His aggregate of 3,545 runs for the university remained a benchmark.

Across his career, he surpassed 1,000 runs in a season six times and 2,000 runs on three occasions, with his highest seasonal tally being 2,270 runs in 1953. He scored three double centuries, one for Sussex and two for Cambridge, including a career-best 239* against Worcestershire in 1952. His highest Test score was 119 against India national cricket team at The Oval in 1952.

In 1953, Sussex finished runners-up in the County Championship, and Sheppard was named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year. The following year, he captained England in two Tests against Pakistan in the absence of Len Hutton, winning one and drawing the other as the series ended 1-1. Though many at Lord’s preferred him to captain the 1954-55 Ashes tour instead of Hutton, Sheppard declined to tour unless appointed captain, as he was already progressing in his clerical vocation.

Recalled in 1956, he scored 113 in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, a match famous for Jim Laker’s 19-wicket haul. Sheppard’s final Tests came against New Zealand in early 1963. Beyond cricket, Sheppard was a staunch opponent of apartheid-era tours. He refused to play against the South Africa in 1960, opposed the proposed 1968-69 MCC tour, and supported the Fair Cricket Campaign in 1970 after Basil D’Oliveira was barred from touring South Africa.

In 1962-63, he returned for the Ashes tour under Ted Dexter. At Melbourne, he made 0 and 113 in the second Test. Though he dropped two catches and endured a mixed outing, England secured victory. In a dramatic finish, Sheppard was run out attempting a risky single, leaving Ken Barrington to watch Colin Cowdrey complete the winning run.

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