Umpiring great David Shepherd dies aged 68
Umpiring great David Shepherd dies aged 68
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 28, Oct 2009 02:52
By Lewis Bazley.
Much-loved cricket umpire David Shepherd has passed away at the age of 68, it has been confirmed.
Renowned for his habit of shifting at the crease whenever a batting side had reached a 'Nelson' - a score with a multiple of 111 - Shepherd died after a long battle with cancer, his county Gloucestershire confirmed.
Born in Devon in December 1940, Shepherd played first-class cricket for the Westcountry side between 1965 and 1979, and became an umpire in 1981.
He gained Test status in 1985 and umpired at international for 20 years, including 92 Test matches and 172 One Day Internationals.
Dickie Bird, who frequently umpired with Shepherd on the international stage, said: "I'm very sad and shocked it's happened.
"He was a fine umpire. We umpired together all over the world. He was a character, a great man, and a tremendous bloke. I've lost a friend. A great friend."
ECB chief executive David Collier also expressed his sadness at Shepherd's passing, saying: "Shep was not only one the greatest umpires of all time but he was also a friend to all involved in cricket.
"His cheery personality created a wonderful atmosphere at every match in which he was involved and he will be sadly missed by everyone involved in cricket throughout the world."
A collective statement from the current international umpiring group paid tribute to Shepherd's character and grace:
"Shep was one of the truly great cricket umpires that we have seen but more importantly he was one of the true gentlemen of the game of cricket," it read.
"The international umpires will fondly remember his smiling face, his warm personality and his ever helpful demeanour.
"Shep helped so many umpires in so many ways and contributed to numerous umpiring careers - many are indebted to him."
In reference to Shepherd's infamous superstition, the statement added: "Every time we see Nelson on the scoreboard, we will be thinking of Shep's little jig and saying a quiet 'thank you' for having him as one of us.
"As Shep would always say to every umpire he worked with on the way out to the middle, we now say to him: 'Good luck mate, and may your God go with you.'
"Shep may have left us but his legacy of excellent people-management and top-class umpiring will remain with us forever."
An MBE, Shepherd's last Test was between the West Indies and Pakistan at Kingston in June 2005 with his final appearance in a one-day international coming at The Oval in July of that year.