William Shepherd

Australian Aboriginal cricket team, at Swansea in July 1868, including Charles Lawrence and William Shepherd (middle bottom). William Charles Shepherd (9 August 1840 – 27 May 1919) was an English first-class cricketer, active 1864–68. He played for Surrey. He was born in Kennington and died in Tooting. In 1868 he played and toured with the Australian Aboriginal Cricket team and between 1872-1895 he was the Dulwich College cricket professional (coach and groundsman). As a left-arm, medium-pace bowler he had a unique delivery, “which gave the impression he was extracting the ball from his waistcoat pocket”. ! Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St First-class 13 17 6 56 18 5.09 0 0 8 0 +Bowling averages

Dulwich College The Alleynian (the Dulwich College Alumni Magazine) declared in 1879, “From the arrival of Shepherd dates a complete reform in the history of our cricket”. Shepherd drained, levelled and re-turfed the college playing fields, and devoted enormous energy to the cause of Dulwich cricket. PG Wodehouse's enthusiasm for Surrey cricket is likely to have been encouraged by Shepherd who was the Dulwich professional from 1872 to 1895.

Final years

Shepherd frequented the Oval in his declining years, retailing cricketing memories to bystanders. His nostalgic and not always accurate version of the Aboriginal tour was published in the 1919 edition of Ayres' Cricket Companion, the year of his death. and the Mullagh Medal, which is awarded to the man of the match in the boxing day test match.