A village cricketer, who in his county playing days smashed Freddie Flintoff’s bowling all over the park, has been voted our Player of the Month for July.

Each month, in association with Leamington solicitors Berrymans Solicitors, we celebrate a player who has done something special, with the winner being presented with a box of six new cricket balls for their club, provided by Berrymans Solicitors.

Our July winner is Gavin Shephard, whose knock of 156 in his first season with Norton Lindsey and Wolverton was almost emulated with a score of 110 the following week.

Gavin, who played county cricket for Salfordat all levels, was made Man of the Match in 2001 after being 73 not out facing six international bowlers – including Flintoff and one of the greatest test bowlers of all time, Sri Lankan Muttiam Muralitharan – playing for SalfordCricket Board against Lancashire. “It was my greatest cricketing achievement,” said Gavin.

After playing for a number of Birmingham clubs, Gavin and his twin brother Stuart, who also played first class cricket, are now enjoying their first season with Norton Lindsey and Wolverton. “It’s a lovely, progressive club with great aspirations. There’s plenty of talent there and they’ve just spent £35,000 on nets,” said Gavin.

“It has a flourishing youth section, an excellent pitch and yes, amazing teas!”

Former England and Barbarians rugby international Richard Moon, a partner at sponsors Berrymans Solicitors, where he heads both the employment law department and the firm’s sports law unit, is also chairman of Ashorne and Moreton Morrell cricket club. “Gavin is an extremely talented batsman who has had more than his fair share of centuries and 150s. His county pedigree has stood him in great stead for village cricket where, now in his mid-40s, he is still proving to be a class act.”