Gothoskar recalls Shepherd's judgement on 81st birthday

MUMBAI: Veteran Test umpire Madhav Gothoskar's thoughts on turning 81 on Friday were less about himself and more about David Shepherd who passed away two days ago.
Gothoskar, among the oldest living Indian Test umpire after PR Punjabi, also from Mumbai, said,"I was manager of the umpires for the World Cup against between India and Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium.David took one look at the pitch and said the side fielding first would dominate. His judgement proved perfect as Zimbabwe won the toss batted and were bowled out by Manoj Prabhakar. Shepherd also backed his judgement. At lunch he said he would have just two cups of ice-cream and have a meal after the game which he was sure would end nearer two p.m. He was spot on."
Gothoskar remembered a previous birthday because it was in the midst of a Test match, the one where Sunil Gavaskar hammered the West Indians at Delhi in 1983. "Clive Lloyd came to know about it and wished me," recalled Gothoskar who keeps busy with the game handling umpiring matters of the MCA especially the exams which got over a few months ago.