From the 1962/63 Tour to Australia and New Zealand
On display in Gallery Three
The jacket (right) was worn by David Sheppard during his tour to Australia and New Zealand which was his international swansong. He had played intermittently over the previous few years due to his pastoral duties, but in 1962 he found time to play a little more and in the game for the Gentlemen scored a century which led to his inclusion in the winter tour led by his Sussex colleague Ted Dexter.
Sheppard scored 1,172 runs, including three centuries and six 50s. He played in eight Tests and made 113 at Melbourne to bring his cricket career for Sussex and England to a close. It was a remarkable career in which he had always been able to made runs on important occasions, even when he had not been in the best of form.
Sheppard’s previous games for England were in 1956 when he was recalled for the Fourth and Fifth Tests against the Australians, scoring 113 at Old Trafford. By playing at The Oval in Laker’s great match, Sheppard became the first ordained priest to play Test cricket.
The Museum also has on display the telegram sent by the English Cricket Board to Sheppard whilst he was playing at Hastings, calling him up to the England side for his Test debut. To see the telegram click here
For more on David Sheppard, read his player profile here.
