Former umpire Shepherd dead

David Shepherd, a former English Test cricket umpire, has died of cancer, the English and Wales Cricket Board said on Wednesday. He was 68.

The former Gloucestershire batsman, who was a veteran of 92 Tests and 172 One-day internationals, retired from umpiring in 2005 and received a standing ovation from the fans and players after his final match, a One-day game between England and Australia at the Oval.

As well as being a highly respected umpire, the superstitious Shepherd also had a habit of standing on one leg when a team’s score reached 111, which he considered unlucky.