David Shepherd bids adieu

'Cricket has been everything to me'

Cricinfo staff

June 8, 2005

A token of appreciation from Brian Lara © Getty Images

David Shepherd said that he would like to remain involved with cricket in some capacity after officiating in his final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica. He is scheduled to stand in five one-day internationals in England later this summer and then see out the county season.

Shepherd was embraced by the players at the end of Pakistan's emphatic 136-run win, and Brian Lara even presented him with a bat that said: "Thank you for the service, the memories and the professionalism. Enjoy your retirement."

According to the BBC, Shepherd, who played county cricket for Gloucestershire before becoming an umpire, was keen to give something back to the game. "Cricket has been my life," he said. "I don't want to say goodbye completely. I'd like to have some input into it. It has been everything to me and I would like to give something back - what, at this moment, I don't know."

Shepherd umpired three World Cup finals, and stood in 92 Tests, and said that the journey had been a fulfilling one. "It's been a very long road but basically a very happy one," he said. "It's very important to get the respect of the players. It's also very important for umpires to respect players - it's a mutual thing."

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David Shepherd

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