Former Yorkshire and Leicestershire clubs announced on Tuesday that Harold Dennis “Dickie” Bird, a retired international cricket umpire who refereed three World Cup finals, has passed away at the age of 92.
Bird, a former first-class English cricketer, officiated his first test match in 1973. Over the following 23 years, he officiated 66 tests and 76 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in both men’s and women’s cricket.
“Bird’s playing career was cut short by injury, but his legacy was truly forged in his role as an international umpire … writing his name … as the most famous and popular official in the game’s history,” Yorkshire stated in a statement.