Full Name

David Robert Shepherd

Born

December 27, 1940, Bideford, Devon

Died

October 27, 2009 (aged 68y 304d)

Nicknames

Shep

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Medium

Height

5ft 10in

Education

Barnstaple Grammar School; St Luke's College, Exeter

RELATIONS

(brother)

Other

Umpire

David Shepherd, who died in October 2009, aged 68, was a renowned international umpire who officiated in 172 ODIs, including three consecutive World Cup finals, and 92 Tests between 1983 and 2005. His roly-poly figure, good-humoured approach to officiating and quirky superstitions - most notably his 'jig' when scores reached 111 or a multiple thereof - made him a favourite with players and spectators the world over.

As a player, he was immensely popular, his figure again hiding his worth to Gloucestershire as a pugnacious middle-order batsman who contributed to the side both on and off the field. He made his county debut late - he was 25 - after dabbling in teaching, and smashed a hundred on debut. Despite his bulk, which made him something of a liability in the field, he excelled at the one-day game where his placing of shots compensated for his lack of speed between the wickets.

"It is not only his build, though that calls the deep-rooted countryman to mind," wrote Geoffrey Moorhouse. "His bottom hand is clamped massively just above the shoulder of the bat,, as some ancestor probably held a scythe, or possibly a blacksmith's maul. He stands ... head scanning the field of play the way men do by gates when they are contemplating crops.

Shepherd was appointed a first-class umpire in 1981, and made his international debut at the 1983 World Cup. He would go onto become one of the game's most decorated and beloved officials. At the time of his death, only Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen had stood in more Tests.

His last Test match was between West Indies and Pakistan in Kingston in June 2005 - after which Brian Lara presented him with a bat inscribed with a message thanking him for "the service, the memories and the professionalism" - and his final county appearance came at his former home ground of Bristol. Shepherd had represented Gloucestershire as a batsman over a 14-year career, which included 282 first-class matches and 12 centuries.

Upon his retirement from umpiring, Shepherd returned to Devon and remained involved with his local club, North Devon CC. He married Jenny, his long-time partner, in 2008.

David Shepherd Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAve100s50sCtSt
FC282476401067215324.471255950
List A18317317333010021.34113340

Bowling

FormatMatBallsRunsWktsBBIBBMAveEconSR4w5w10w
FC28219610621/1-53.003.2498.0-00
List A18312140---7.00-000

Umpire & Referee

FormatMatUmpireTV Umpire
Tests9292-
ODIs18817216
WODIs11-
FC6868-
List A1791763
T20s11-
David Shepherd - ICC Portrait 2003

Explore Statsguru Analysis

Test
ODI

Debut/Last Matches of David Shepherd

FC Matches

Span
1965 - 1979

List A Matches

Span
1965 - 1979

Photos of David Shepherd

Darren Gough shakes David Shepherd's hand as the umpire bows out of international cricket
David Shepherd hops as Australia reach 222
David Shepherd before his final international appearance
David Shepherd before his final international appearance
David Shepherd in front of The Oval
Umpire David Shepherd relaxes at The Oval, before his final match