AN UNMISTAKABLE figure could be seen watching play from the Long Room in the pavilion yesterday. Renowned for his smile and friendliness, as well as his generous girth, the 66-year-old Devonian saw Test cricket all over the world in his working life, umpiring in 92 Test matches from 1985 to 2005.

Remarkably, though, this was the first time David Shepherd had watched a Lord’s Test as a spectator.

Shepherd, an MCC member proudly sporting his bacon-and-egg club tie, is a guest of the ECB in its box today but thought he would come along to see the first day, too. Having caught the 07.15 train from Barnstaple yesterday morning, he arrived just after the start of play and was immediately impressed by Alastair Cook. “First time I’ve seen him in the flesh,” he said. “What I like is he plays so straight. And Paul Collingwood, I like his attitude. He’s such a fighter.”

Everyone in the game, of course, liked “Shep”, as he was universally known. He admitted to popping up to the umpires’ room in the lunch break to say hello to Steve Bucknor and Simon Taufel. Bucknor, with whom he stood on many occasions, including three World Cup finals, is the only official to have officiated in more Tests than Shepherd.

Did he miss the life as an international umpire, I asked? “Oh yes,” Shepherd replied. “I miss the crack more than anything else. All that time going all over the world to places, and then nothing at all.”

Since retiring last summer, he has declined to officiate at any level, keen not to get in the way of younger umpires. Such selflessness is one reason why he is such a popular man, much respected the world over.