Giving the finger a rest ..

Now Now, don't be perverted and get unwanted licentious thoughts in your head. This is about the lovable Umpire of Cricket, David Shepherd who officiated in the last test match of his career yesterday at Kingston, Jamaica. The match was the second and the last of the series betweeen home team West Indies and Pakistan. Pakistan won the match.

David Shepherd who has officiated in 92 test matches and has been involved in 167 One Day Internationals will continue to umpire till September in 5 One Dayers and some County Matches in England before finally giving his finger a rest. He however would have wanted to give the right decision as his last one when he gave Darren Powell out off the bowling of Danish Kaneria, when the ball did not seem to hit the bat at all in the 2nd and last Test at Jamaica yesterday. But mistakes do happen and he was one umpire against who fingers were never raised for being biased towards any side.

His career spanned 40 years which included his cricket playing days before he turned an umpire pro in 1985. Incidentally, he hold the World Record for most number of One Day Internationals that an umpire has officiated in. He has also stood in 3 World Cup Finals with his fellow umpire, Steve Bucknor.

A warm personality on and off the field, Shep was a controversy free umpire unlike many others. He was regarded with great respect by cricketers and cricketing officials alike. Shepherd was famous for the nelson hop.Shepherd's habit of hopping from one foot to another when the score rests on 111 brought the English cricket superstition of the `Nelson' to a wider international audience. The game will truly miss one of the warmest figures on the cricket field. Talking to Tony Cozier after the 2nd test match at Kingston he said, it is important that umpires gain the respect of players and also, respect the players in order to be revered and respected. A wonderful human being and a great umpire. Cheers and All the best to Shep !!!

Stats (Courtesy - http://www.icc-cricket.com)
David Shepherd MBE factfile:
Born: 27 December 1940, Bideford, Devon Major Team: Gloucestershire.
First class playing career:1965 - 1979 (282 matches, 10672 runs)
International umpiring career: First Test match: England v Australia at Manchester, 4th Test, 1985
First ODI match: Pakistan v Sri Lanka at Swansea, World Cup, 1983
World record holder for One-Day International matches as umpire