Harold 'Dickie' Bird, umpiring great, dies aged 92

Harold Dickie Bird, one of the most beloved umpires in cricket's history, has died at the age of 92.

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Harold 'Dickie' Bird, pictured at Headingley in May 2015

Bird, who officiated in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs, including three World Cup finals, was synonymous with his home county Yorkshire, for who he began his career as a top-order batter in 1956, and later went on to serve as Yorkshire president in 2014.

He averaged 20.71 in 93 first-class matches, making two centuries including a best of 181 not out against Glamorgan in 1959. But when, after moving to Leicestershire in 1960, his career was cut short by injury four years later, his switch to umpiring would set him on the path to becoming a household name.

Bird's idiosyncrasies would become part of his appeal, including his famously anxious attitude to timekeeping. Having made his umpiring debut in May 1970, he travelled to London for his second match - Surrey versus Yorkshire at The Oval - arrived at 6am for an 11am start, and was caught by a policeman attempting to scale the wall of the still-locked ground.