Donald John Shepherd (12 August 1927 – 18 August 2017) was a Welshcricketer, who played for Glamorgan. One of the great county bowlers, he took more first-class wickets – 2,218 – than any other player who never played Test cricket.[1]
Shepherd began his county career in 1950 as a fast-medium bowler, and was a regular in the Glamorgan team in 1952, when he took 120 wickets.[2]
Over the next three seasons, however, he was less successful and appeared to lose some control. Under advice from team-mates, he switched late in 1955 to bowling off-cutters – off-breaks with a pronounced undercut delivered at almost medium pace. The move was an instant success. In 1956, Shepherd took 177 wickets, more than any other player in that English first-class season, and he took more than 100 wickets in 12 seasons in all.[3] On bad wickets, he could be devastating; on good wickets, his accuracy and the speed of delivery meant that he was usually economical.
Shepherd maintained his fitness into his mid-forties, and was an integral part of the Glamorgan side that won the County Championship in 1969. He was rewarded by being named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970, and he celebrated that accolade by taking more wickets, 106, in the 1970 season than any other player in the English first-class game. His tally from a career spanning 23 summers (1950–72) included 28 instances of ten or more in a match and 123 of five or more in an innings.[3]
In a batting side that included some real rabbits – Jeff Jones, Ossie Wheatley – Shepherd batted perhaps higher up the order than he might have in other teams. He averaged less than 10 runs per innings and reached 50 just five times. He could play big shots however and, in 1961, he scored 51 in 15 minutes against the Australians at Swansea, reaching that score with just 11 scoring strokes, six sixes, three fours, a two and a single.[3] Also in 1961, against Derbyshire at Cardiff, he made his top score of 73, hitting six sixes in reaching his 50 in 16 minutes.[4] He took nine wickets when Glamorgan beat the 1964 Australians at Swansea,[5] and captained Glamorgan to victory against the 1968 Australians, again at Swansea.
Later lifeedit
Shepherd played regularly to the end of the 1971 season, and then retired from first-class cricket after a few games in 1972. He often appeared as a summariser on BBC Radio Wales coverage of Glamorgan matches.
He died on 18 August 2017, soon after his 90th birthday.[6]
shepherd, donald, john, shepherd, august, 1927, august, 2017, welsh, cricketer, played, glamorgan, great, county, bowlers, took, more, first, class, wickets, than, other, player, never, played, test, cricket, shepherd, 2007personal, informationfull, namedonald. Donald John Shepherd 12 August 1927 18 August 2017 was a Welsh cricketer who played for Glamorgan One of the great county bowlers he took more first class wickets 2 218 than any other player who never played Test cricket 1 Don ShepherdShepherd in 2007Personal informationFull nameDonald John ShepherdBorn 1927 08 12 12 August 1927Port Eynon Glamorgan WalesDied18 August 2017 2017 08 18 aged 90 NicknameShepBattingRight handedBowlingRight arm mediumRoleBowlerDomestic team informationYearsTeam1950 1972GlamorganFC debut29 April 1950 Glamorgan v SurreyLast FC25 August 1972 Glamorgan v SurreyLA debut12 June 1963 Glamorgan v WorcestershireLast LA3 September 1972 Glamorgan v WorcestershireCareer statisticsCompetition First class List AMatches 668 73Runs scored 5 695 190Batting average 9 65 8 26100s 50s 0 5 0 0Top score 73 25 Balls bowled 132 585 3 475Wickets 2 218 99Bowling average 21 32 19 565 wickets in innings 123 110 wickets in match 28 0Best bowling 9 47 5 31Catches stumpings 249 18 Source CricketArchive 20 February 2010 Contents 1 Career 2 Later life 3 References 4 External linksCareer editShepherd began his county career in 1950 as a fast medium bowler and was a regular in the Glamorgan team in 1952 when he took 120 wickets 2 Over the next three seasons however he was less successful and appeared to lose some control Under advice from team mates he switched late in 1955 to bowling off cutters off breaks with a pronounced undercut delivered at almost medium pace The move was an instant success In 1956 Shepherd took 177 wickets more than any other player in that English first class season and he took more than 100 wickets in 12 seasons in all 3 On bad wickets he could be devastating on good wickets his accuracy and the speed of delivery meant that he was usually economical Shepherd maintained his fitness into his mid forties and was an integral part of the Glamorgan side that won the County Championship in 1969 He was rewarded by being named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1970 and he celebrated that accolade by taking more wickets 106 in the 1970 season than any other player in the English first class game His tally from a career spanning 23 summers 1950 72 included 28 instances of ten or more in a match and 123 of five or more in an innings 3 In a batting side that included some real rabbits Jeff Jones Ossie Wheatley Shepherd batted perhaps higher up the order than he might have in other teams He averaged less than 10 runs per innings and reached 50 just five times He could play big shots however and in 1961 he scored 51 in 15 minutes against the Australians at Swansea reaching that score with just 11 scoring strokes six sixes three fours a two and a single 3 Also in 1961 against Derbyshire at Cardiff he made his top score of 73 hitting six sixes in reaching his 50 in 16 minutes 4 He took nine wickets when Glamorgan beat the 1964 Australians at Swansea 5 and captained Glamorgan to victory against the 1968 Australians again at Swansea Later life editShepherd played regularly to the end of the 1971 season and then retired from first class cricket after a few games in 1972 He often appeared as a summariser on BBC Radio Wales coverage of Glamorgan matches He died on 18 August 2017 soon after his 90th birthday 6 References edit First class Records Bowling Wisden Cricketers Almanack 2009 ed Wisden p 155 Five Cricketers of the Year Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1970 ed Wisden p 70 a b c Frindall Bill 2009 Ask Bearders BBC Books pp 167 168 ISBN 978 1 84607 880 4 Wisden 1962 p 401 Don Shepherd the pride of Welsh cricket ESPN Cricinfo Retrieved 19 August 2017 Don Shepherd Glamorgan great dies aged 90 BBC Sport Retrieved 28 April 2020 External links editDon Shepherd at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Shepherd amp oldid 1200585790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
