Former Test umpire David Shepherd has died after a long battle with cancer, his former club Gloucestershire have confirmed.

Shepherd was a batsman for the county for 14 years but came to prominence as a leading umpire, standing in 92 Tests around the world.

He 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 has died aged 68.

Gloucestershire chairman John Light paid tribute to Shepherd.

"As an umpire he has always been a familiar and much-loved face, not only here but at cricket grounds around the world," Light told Sky Sports News.

"He was friendly, outgoing and straightforward. He believed cricket was a simple game and he took a straightforward approach to it in his cricket and his umpiring.

"He always put a smile on your face."

Light added: "He was tremendously superstitious. When the score was 111, 222 or 333, David would be hopping about on one leg and everybody in the dressing room had to do the same. We all do it in the committee room. When we do it, we say 'Shep would have us dancing'. We do it, and we'll go on doing it."

A tearful Dickie Bird, who regularly stood opposite Shepherd in Tests and one-day internationals, said: "I'm very sad and shocked it's happened.

"He was a fine umpire. We umpired together all over the world. He was a character, a great man, and a tremendous bloke.

"I've lost a friend. A great friend."

Cricket mourns the death of David Shepherd

ICC President: ICC President David Morgan has expressed his sadness at the death of one of the great umpires of all time, David Shepherd, who has passed away at the age of 68.

"David was a true gentleman of the game," said Mr Morgan upon hearing the news.

"He was a fine player and a match official of the very highest quality. He will be remembered fondly by players, spectators and administrators who saw him as a great entertainer but also as one of the best umpires the game has ever seen," he said.

"The example he set as someone who took the art of umpiring very seriously while also enjoying what he did immensely will leave a lasting legacy for the game. He was an engaging character which meant players and other umpires were always delighted to be around him. We have lost someone whose positive influence on our great sport has been immense."

The current international umpires have issued a moving collective tribute to a former colleague who was universally respected within their number.

"Shep was one of the truly great cricket umpires that we have seen but more importantly he was one of the true gentlemen of the game of cricket. The international umpires will fondly remember his smiling face, his warm personality and his ever helpful demeanour,” says the statement.

"Shep helped so many umpires in so many ways and contributed to numerous umpiring careers – many are indebted to him. Every time we see Nelson on the scoreboard, we will be thinking of Shep’s little jig and saying a quiet ‘thank you’ for having him as one of us.

"As Shep would always say to every umpire he worked with on the way out to the middle, we now say to him: ‘Good luck mate, and may your God go with you.’ Shep may have left us but his legacy of excellent people-management and top-class umpiring will remain with us forever."