Dickie Bird death: Former test umpire dies aged 92

Dickie Bird ahead of a test match between England and New Zealand at Headingley in 2014. Photo / Getty Images

Former test umpire Harold “Dickie” Bird, one of the most famous officials of his era, has died at the age of 92, Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced overnight.

Bird stood in 66 tests between 1973 and 1996 as well as 69 men’s one-day internationals, including three World Cup finals.

His home county, Yorkshire, issued a statement saying Bird, “one of cricket’s most beloved figures”, had died peacefully at home.

“Dickie Bird enjoyed an illustrious career as an international umpire, writing his name into history as the most famous and popular official in the game’s history,” the club said.

Yorkshire said he had become a “national treasure”, known not only for his umpiring excellence but also for his “eccentricities and warmth”.

“He leaves behind a legacy of sportsmanship, humility, and joy – and a legion of admirers across generations,” the statement added.

Bird had a modest playing career as a batter for Yorkshire and Leicestershire but made his name as an international umpire, wearing his trademark white cap.

He was given a guard of honour at Lord’s by England and India players before his final Test.

Bird, who sold more than a million copies of his autobiography, was named Yorkshire president in 2014.

Geoffrey Boycott, the Yorkshire and England batting great, had an enduring friendship with Bird from their days playing for Barnsley Cricket Club in the 1950s.

The 84-year-old summed up Bird’s quirky nature when he recalled how his friend used to insist on calling him Gerald, despite his protestations.

“I would say, ‘My name’s not Gerald, it’s Geoffrey’,” Boycott wrote in the Telegraph. “It made no difference telling him because he would then say, ‘OK, put the gloves on for me Gerald’.

“Dickie was a character and he was always fun. He was respected, admired and loved. He will be given a fond farewell.”

‘One of the best’

Barnsley, Bird’s hometown football club, announced they would hold a minute’s applause in memory of the umpire before their League Cup tie against Brighton on Tuesday.

Former England captain David Gower hailed Bird as “one of the best umpires ever to take the field”.

“He certainly set himself high standards as an umpire, but that smile on his face at all times, whether he’s giving you out or not out, whatever he was doing out in the middle, you just knew that Dickie was in the place that he loved best,” Gower told the BBC.

“He was just a very, very good umpire. He had a sense of humour. He had the ability in his own very quirky and slightly barmy way of being able to get on with everyone.”

Graham Gooch, another former England captain, fondly recalled Bird’s habit of becoming embroiled in unusual incidents during matches.

“At Headingley once they had a leaking pipe, right where Dickie was standing,” said Gooch. “Coming up like a sprinkler. It could only happen to him.”