English Cricket Legend Dickie Bird Dies Aged 92

Harold “Dickie” Bird, one of cricket’s most beloved figures, died peacefully at his home in Barnsley aged 92, Yorkshire County Cricket Club confirmed. A former first-class batsman for Yorkshire and Leicestershire whose playing career was curtailed by a knee injury, Bird became an umpire in 1970 and stood in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs. He also umpired the first three Cricket World Cup finals (1975, 1979 and 1983) and retired in the 1990s, receiving a guard of honour at his final Test at Lord’s. Famed for his trademark white cap, fairness and comic humanity, Bird sold more than a million autobiographies, was honoured with an MBE and OBE and was named president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 2014. He was active in charitable work for young athletes and remained a popular ambassador for the game. Tributes from colleagues including Geoffrey Boycott, Graham Gooch and David Gower, and from fans and local leaders, praised his integrity, humour and lasting legacy in cricket and Barnsley.