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2w ago

Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird, Beloved Cricket Umpire, Dies at 92

He became a national treasure over a 26-year career defined by accurate decisions, gentle humour and officiating three Cricket World Cup finals.

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Former cricket umpire Harold "Dickie" Bird poses with his Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) award after being knighted by Britain's Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in London May 15, 2012. REUTERS/Sean Dempsey/pool/File Photo
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Overview

  • Yorkshire County Cricket Club said Bird died peacefully at home on 23 September, prompting tributes from across the cricketing world.
  • He umpired 66 Tests and 69 One Day Internationals from 1973 to 1996, including the inaugural 1975 final and two further World Cup finals.
  • His final Test was at Lord’s in 1996 between England and India, where both teams formed a guard of honour as he took the field.
  • Before umpiring he played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, later becoming Yorkshire’s president in 2014.
  • He was appointed MBE in 1986 and OBE in 2012, and local clubs including Barnsley FC marked his passing, with Yorkshire to share memorial details in due course.