Leicestershire CCC pays tribute to the late Dickie Bird

Leicestershire County Cricket Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Harold “Dickie” Bird, one of the most iconic figures in the game of cricket.

Although best known worldwide for his legendary umpiring career, Bird also represented Leicestershire as a player during the early 1960s, making 93 first-class appearances across his spells with Yorkshire and the Foxes.

After joining Leicestershire ahead of the 1960 season, Bird made an immediate impact with the bat, passing 1,000 runs in his debut year at Grace Road (now the Uptonsteel County Ground), including a memorable century against the touring South Africans. He went on to add valuable experience and resilience to the Leicestershire batting order before a persistent knee injury eventually curtailed his playing days in 1964.

While his county career may have been modest in length, Bird’s influence on the game was profound. His transition into umpiring saw him become a global cricketing figure, renowned for his fairness, humour and love of the game.

Leicestershire CCC would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to Dickie’s family, friends, and all those in the cricketing community who were inspired by him. His contribution to the sport, both at Leicestershire and beyond, will be remembered with immense fondness.