David Sheppard

Template:Infobox Historic Cricketer The Right Reverend David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool (March 6, 1929 – March 5, 2005) was an English cricketer and a high-profile bishop of the Church of England.

Sheppard was born in Reigate, Surrey and played for Cambridge University (blue 1950, 1951 and 1952; captain 1952), Sussex (captain 1953) and England. In 1952 he topped the English batting averages, scoring 2,262 runs at an average of 64.62. This included 1,281 runs and 7 centuries for Cambridge University, a Cambridge record. 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). He played in 22 Test matches. He was not selected in 1953 when England played Australia and recovered the Ashes, but he was selected in 1954, and captained the team on two occasions against the touring Pakistanis, when he stood in for Len Hutton. One game was won, the other drawn, but the four-Test series ended tied at 1-1. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1953.

Sheppard was ordained in 1955 and continued to play Test cricket until 1963, being the first ordained minister to do so. He became Bishop of Woolwich in 1969, and Bishop of Liverpool in 1975. He was an active broadcaster and campaigner, especially on the subject of poverty and social reform in the inner cities. He worked closely with the Roman Catholic archbishop of Liverpool, Derek Worlock, on these issues, and was often an outspoken critic of Margaret Thatcher's government. He retired in 1997, and was elevated to the Peerage as Lord Sheppard of Liverpool. He sat in the House of Lords on the Labour benches.

In 2001 Sheppard was named President of Sussex County Cricket Club. He had a long and happy marriage to his wife Grace. In December 2003 he announced that he had been suffering from cancer for the previous two years, and he died just over a year later, on the eve of his 76th birthday.

External references

• Cricinfo page for David Sheppard
• Biography from The Wisden Cricketer
• BBC News obituary