Bird could reduce a rampaging Lillee to laughter

Umpiring in 1970 Dickie's professional career had been undistinguished. As a young man he played for Barnsley CC alongside Michael Parkinson, who remained a constant friend, and soon they were joined in the team by Geoffrey Boycott, who was several years younger but destined to score rather more runs than the other two. Boycott has since acknowledged Bird's natural talent while also referencing, to the surprise of no one, that he was often hampered by nerves.

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However in 1959 Bird managed to seize his chance at Bradford against Glamorgan since Yorkshire's regular opener, Ken Taylor, was playing for England. He hit an unbeaten 181 but was promptly dropped for the next game as Taylor returned to the side.

By the start of the following season Bird had joined Leicestershire and after a promising start there the runs dried up, injuries intervened and confidence dipped. So he left the club in 1964 and spent five seasons as the cricket professional for Paignton CC in Devon - in later life he would often return there for holidays.

Umpiring is not usually recommended for those of a nervous disposition but it soon became apparent that Dickie was in his element in a white coat. Sometimes he still gave the impression of being a nervous wreck - why else would he turn up for his second game at the Oval in 1970 five hours before the start, which meant that early risers in Kennington could have spotted him trying to clamber over the walls to gain entry to the ground?