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One of the most popular and beloved umpires in the history of the game, Dickie Bird passed away at the age of 92 on Tuesday. He first made a name for himself in County Cricket and made his debut for Yorkshire as a batter in 1956 before becoming an umpire and leaving a legacy that will be remembered by many. Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared an emotional tribute for Bird and labelled him as a 'unique character' and 'superb umpire'.
“That was a sad news indeed. Having played the game at the first-class level Dickie knew the tensions and pressures the players undergo and so was sympathetic to their frustrations if his decisions didn’t go their way," Gavaskar was quoted as saying to PTI.
“The players loved him because he was always ready to chat between overs and sometimes between deliveries too. Cricket has lost a unique character and a superb umpire. May his soul rest in peace," he added.
Tributes have been pouring in for Bird ever since the news of his passing came out. He officiated in a total of 66 Tests and 69 ODIs, including famous matches like the 1983 ODI World Cup final between India and West Indies. He was a prominent figure in the Yorkshire Cricket Club as not only did he make his debut for the team, but also became their President years later.
Bird was the umpire in Ganguly and Dravid's debut Test
Bird last officiated a Test back in 1996 which was a match between England and India. Incidentally, it was also the debut red-ball match of both Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid. Following the conclusion of the game, both the team's players gave a guard of honour to Bird and the crowd also gave him a standing ovation, which is quite rare for an umpire.
ECB's tribute for Bird
Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also paid an emotional tribute to Bird.
“Everyone at the England & Wales Cricket Board is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dickie Bird. A proud Yorkshireman and a much-loved umpire, he will be sorely missed," ECB posted on X.
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