Legendary Cricket Dickie Bird, one of the most recognizable figures in the game, died at the age of 92. Bird, born Harold Dennis Bird in Barnsley, Yorkshire, on April 19, 1933, began as a cricket player before moving on to refereeing. He played as a right -hander drummer for Yorkshire and Leicestershire between 1956 and 1964, marking two centuries of first class in 93 games. His playing career, however, was interrupted by a recurring knee injury. After the end of his county’s stay, Bird turned to training, then set to the referee. He was held in his first county match in 1970 and only three years later, officiated his first test game, which was England against New Zealand in Headingley. Over the next two decades, Bird refereed in 66 trial games and 69 international, including three World Cup finals. At the time, his counting of the officiated tests was a world record. Known for his sharp judgment and his eccentric style, Bird was respected by players and fans. His latest test came in 1996, when India was touring England. Players from the two teams trained an honor as he was going out in the middle, a moment that left him in tears. He retired from the county cricket referee in 1998, but remained a famous figure in sport. Bird was honored with a MBE in 1986 and later an OBE in 2012 for its cricket and charity services. A statue of him, finger raised in his brand style, stands at Barnsley, near his birthplace. He was also president of Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 2014.
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What is your favorite memory of Dickie Bird as an arbitrator?
He was admired for his fairness and his ability to connect with players and crowds through the cricket eras. Bird is still the record for most test matches as an arbitrator at Lord’s.
