Dickie Bird, one of cricket’s most loved umpires, dies aged 92; leaves behind legacy of humility and joy
PTC Web Desk: Harold “Dickie” Bird, one of cricket’s most loved umpires, has passed away peacefully at the age of 92. The Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced his death, calling him a “beloved figure in cricket” who leaves behind a legacy of sportsmanship, humility, and joy.
Bird had a long umpiring career, officiating in 66 Test matches and 69 ODIs between 1973 and 1996. His final Test match was the 1996 Lord’s Test between India and England, which saw legendary Indian players Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly make their Test debut.
Before becoming an umpire, Bird played for Yorkshire from 1956 to 1964, scoring 3,314 runs in 93 matches, including two centuries. Over the years, he became famous for his precise decisions on the field and his unique quirks, like arriving at the ground as early as 6 am.
Dickie Bird shared a notable on-field partnership with the late umpire David Shepherd and earned respect from players like Sunil Gavaskar, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Dennis Lillee, and Ian Botham. In a memorable 1974 match at Old Trafford, Bird even gave Gavaskar a haircut during play!
He was honoured with an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 2012 for his exceptional contribution to cricket. Off the field, Bird remained active through quiz sessions, after-dinner talks, and TV shows. He also wrote two best-selling books, 'My Autobiography' and 'The White Cap and Bails'.
Bird, who never married, had close friendships with notable personalities, including Queen Elizabeth, writer Stephen King, and several British Prime Ministers. He will be remembered as one of cricket’s greatest characters.
- With inputs from agencies
