David Sheppard his clerical career and declined to tour unless required as a captain. In 1956 he was recalled to play Australia and made 113 in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, where Jim Laker famously took 19 wickets and England won by an innings. He refused to play against the touring South Africans in 1960, and was a vocal opponent of the proposed MCC tour in 1968–69 which was ultimately cancelled after the South African government refused to allow Basil D'Oliveira to play. Sheppard was willing to take a sabbatical from his church mission in the East End in order to
1971–72 South African cricket season 1971–72 South African cricket season This article is a review of the 1971–72 South African cricket season. The 1971–72 South African cricket season was the first one following the isolation placed on South African cricket as a result of the apartheid policies practised by the South African Government. A scheduled tour by England to South Africa had been cancelled and so the South African Cricket Association decided on 23 January to extend the Currie Cup, which had nearly been completed, to a full round of home and away matches. A proposed tour of Australia late in 1971-72 was in doubt,