Shackleton began his career in the Yorkshire and Lancashire leagues as an all-rounder bowling some medium pace, but decided to concentrate on leg spin.

[1] Shackleton almost reached a thousand runs as a batsman in his first season, but his batting subsequently declined until he was firmly entrenched in the lower order by the mid-1950s.

After another successful season in 1951, Shackleton was chosen to tour India in 1951/1952, but though accurate he lacked penetration on the slow Indian turf.

With Alec Bedser, and later Fred Trueman, Brian Statham and Frank Tyson providing England's with penetrating pace bowling, Shackleton had no opportunities in Test cricket for over a decade.

In taking eight wickets for four runs, Shackleton posted the most remarkable bowling figures in county cricket in the 20th century.

Throughout the 1950s, Shackleton formed a success bowling partnership at Hampshire with fellow seam bowler Victor Cannings.

[2] Shackleton's high work rate reached new levels in the following years: he bowled over 9,000 balls in the dry summer of 1961, spearheading Hampshire's drive to their first County Championship win.

Colin Cowdrey came out to bat with a broken arm, and David Allen defended the last two balls of the match to secure a draw.

He has the seventh-highest tally of first-class wickets, behind Rhodes, Tich Freeman, Charlie Parker, Jack Hearne, Tom Goddard and Alec Kennedy.

He bowled mostly in-swingers, with the occasional out-swinger, both moving late, with a classical high and smooth sideways-on action.

He was described by John Arlott as "shrewd, varied, and utterly accurate, beating down as unremittingly as February rain", and "the modern master of bowling in English conditions".

After retiring from first-class cricket, Shackleton lived at Ferndown and was coach and groundsman at Canford School in Dorset.