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In Western Australian cricket, few names resonate with the same reverence as Barry Shepherd.

Powerfully built, belligerent and grumpily determined, the lion of the WACA — he played a major role in the emergence of WA cricket in the 1960s.

Shepherd didn’t just play cricket for Western Australia; he helped define what it meant to be a Western Australian cricketer.

Once considered the minnows of Australian cricket, “Shep” helped WA win its first Sheffield Shield in 1967-68. That celebrated feat built a new respect for WA teams and a new generation of young players who believed in their ability to beat their powerful rivals from the Eastern States.

His parochial Western Australian spirit helped build a culture of resilience, professionalism and quiet confidence; an attitude that lives on t