GLOUCESTERSHIRE chairman John Light has called for an appropriate tribute to recognise the “worldwide standing” of former Test umpire David Shepherd, who died after a long battle with cancer yesterday.

Shepherd, who was a batsman for the county for 14 years but came to prominence as a leading umpire, passed away aged 68 in the early hours.

He stood in 92 Tests and was perhaps most famous for his one-legged jigs when the score reached 111, 222 or 333, known as a ‘Nelson’. He retired in 2005 but was struck by cancer soon after.

And Gloucestershire chairman Light believes fitting tributes will be made to the universally-popular Shepherd.

He said: “We have already spoken to people and there will be a service at Instow church, which was exactly what he wanted, and a large-scale memorial service – though we don’t know where that is yet.

“We are redeveloping our ground at Bristol and it may be that we consider naming part of it after him but it’s early days for that.

“But certainly at Gloucestershire County Cricket Club there will be an appropriate tribute because of the general respect we have for him.

“I think the world of cricket will pay an appropriate tribute.

“It’s not just his standing in Bristol, it’s his worldwide standing because he was popular wherever he went umpiring.”