Sheppard played in just 22 Tests for England
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Former England batsman Tom Graveney has led the tributes to ex-England captain David Sheppard, who has died aged 75.
Graveney played with the future Bishop of Liverpoool for England and against Sussex and Cambridge University.
"He was a fine player and a very nice man. He was very powerfully built, tremendously strong and hit the ball very hard," he told BBC Sport.
"He would have been a regular had he not gone into the church - I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Instead, Sheppard played just 22 Tests for England as he concentrated on a career in the church, going on to be Bishop of Liverpool from 1975 to 1997.
He led his country just twice, when Len Hutton was unavailable during the 1954 home series against Pakistan.
In 1956 he became the first ordained minister to play international cricket for England, scoring a hundred against Australia at Old Trafford in a Test dominated by Jim Laker's 19 wickets.
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He was an excellent player and an excellent catcher close to the wicket
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Having barely played the previous year, he was called into the England team to tour Australia in 1962/63, and made 330 runs in a drawn five-Test series.
Overall, his Test career brought 1,172 runs at an average of 37.80.
"I remember him batting at Cheltenham against Gloucestershire and they only got about 140, of which he got 70 or 80," said Graveney, currently MCC president.
"He was an excellent player and an excellent catcher close to the wicket, but he wasn't a great bowler - he wouldn't mind me saying that."
A fierce opponent of apartheid in South Africa, Sheppard refused to tour the country.
He also spoke out against England's tour of Zimbabwe last year, saying players should be allowed to follow their conscience over the trip.
One of Graveney's most vivid memories is an event at Cheltenham, when Sheppard was playing for Cambridge.
"He and Peter May came up and had an evening meal with us when we were living in Bristol," Graveney recalled.
"The following morning he opened the batting and at lunch had got 50-odd.
"I said, 'Well played David', went up to the dressing room and my captain said, 'Come 'ere you. When you're speaking to the gentlemen from Cambridge you say Sir or Mr Sheppard.
"It upset David tremendously - we were very good friends"
Sussex skipper Chris Adams joined in the tributes, saying: "We are all terribly saddened by the news of Lord Sheppard's passing.
"You only have to speak to those who played with or under him, for England or for Sussex, to know just how highly he was esteemed and regarded.
"David was a wonderful role model not only to the aspiring cricketer but also to any aspiring captain.
"He was a great man and his contributions to cricket and beyond are immeasurable. He was universally well-loved and will be sorely missed by all."