Cricket legend and former international umpire Harold “Dickie” Bird OBE has died aged 92.
Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced Bird’s passing on Tuesday afternoon, calling Bird “the most famous and popular official in the game’s history”.
The club revealed that Bird, their former president, had died peacefully at his home.
Barnsley-born, Bird played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Leicestershire, before he turned his attentions to becoming an umpire in 1970 after his playing career was cut short by injury.
He played for eight years between 1958 and 1964, with his last match coming for Leicestershire against Essex in August 1964.
He played 93 first-class matches, scoring 3,314 runs, including two centuries and 14 half-centuries.
Throughout his career, Bird oversaw 66 Test matches, 69 one-day internationals, and three World Cup finals, and he was awarded an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 2012 for his services to the sport.
“The thoughts of everyone at the Yorkshire County Cricket Club are with Dickie’s family and friends during this time,” Yorkshire’s statement read.
“He will be truly missed by all at the Club having spent an incredible amount of time in support of everyone here and will be remembered as one the greatest characters in Yorkshire’s history.
