Dickie: A Tribute to Umpire Harold Bird

by Brian Scovell

A tribute to Harold Bird, the popular umpire, marking his retirement from Test Match cricket in June 1996. Known affectionately as Dickie Bird, he was appointed first-class umpire in 1970 and promoted to the Test Panel 1973. Since then he has stood in 66 test matches. This is packed with tales which have been become part of cricket folklore and scores of anecdotes spanning his 40 years in cricket. Contributors include Geoff Boycott, John Major, Michael Parkinson, Michael Parkinson, Fred Trueman, Ray Illingworth, and Ted Dexter. It is enhanced by 16 pages of colour and black and white photographs.

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dickie Bird is an absolute legend of the game of cricket, which is remarkable considering he never played to any kind of high standard. This is a lovely book: exactly what it says it is. A tribute to the wonderful umpire, who is such a character that you'd be forgiven for thinking he was one of the best batsmen or bowlers that England ever had. it's a lovely read with some great anecdotes, but really it's nothing exemplary.

[Ernest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dickie Bird is a cricket umpiring legend. In this book, various people-including players, commentators and contemporaries-give their thoughts and share anecdotes about this slightly eccentric but wonderfully respected umpire. It is not a book for those who want to learn about cricket or cricket umpiring. The respect and affection shown to him by friends and occasional ‘foes’ (the players) is evident. If I ever get to be even half the umpire Dickie Bird was, I will consider myself to have done well.