The England and Wales Cricket Board has paid tribute to the iconic former international umpire Dickie Bird OBE, who has died at the age of 92.
Born Harold Dennis Bird in Barnsley in 1933, he turned to cricket in his teens, and went on to represent Yorkshire between 1956 and 1959, before spending the next five years with Leicestershire.
By the time he stopped playing, he had 93 first-class appearances to his name. But it was umpiring where he stole the show, and for more than two decades he was an unmissable and unforgettable presence in international cricket.
With Bird, charm and eccentricity were part of the package. He cared deeply about his responsibilities, once arriving five hours early for a fixture at The Oval. He admitted to battles with nerves, but nobody ever doubted his authority at the crease.
At international level, he took charge of 66 Tests, 69 ODIs, and three World Cup finals. His final Test, at Lord’s in 1996, was marked by players and crowd giving Bird a guard of honour and standing ovation as he took to the field. Two years later, he fittingly signed off from first-class cricket with a fixture at Headingley between Yorkshire and Warwickshire.
In his later years, Bird remained an instantly recognisable figure. In 2009, his hometown of Barnsley paid its own tribute by unveiling a bronze statue of Bird raising his index finger. A string of personal honours also came his way: an MBE In 1986; life membership of MCC in 1996; the freedom of Barnsley in 2000; an OBE in 2012; and President of Yorkshire CCC from 2014 to 2016.
In 2023, Headingley stadium hosted a special reception for Bird to celebrate his 90th birthday. He was given a cricket-themed birthday cake and vowed never to abandon his spiritual home. “I’ll always come here as long as I can,” he said.
ECB Chief Executive, Richard Gould, said: “Dickie Bird was a much-loved character of our game who earned respect and admiration with his humility and unique charm.
“He was a proud Yorkshireman, a fine umpire and player who deeply cared about the game and who long into his retirement could still be found watching his beloved White Rose at Headingley.
“Everyone at the ECB is deeply saddened by Dickie’s passing. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”