Postcard (16 May 1999)

16 May 1999

Postcard

from Justin Langer

Sipping tea with umpiring legend Dickie Bird

Yorkshire cricket is renowned for the Headingley cricket ground, Sir Len Hutton, Geoffrey Boycott, Freddy Trueman, Darren Gough and cricket icon and umpiring superstar Dickie Bird. I say superstar because his recent autobiography has sold over a million copies, the highest selling sports autobiography in British history. No one less than a superstar could boast to have achieved these sort of numbers, a mighty indication of the incredible influence he has had on the game of cricket since taking up umpiring.

After retiring from the first-class umpiring ranks at the end of last summer, Dickie is now concentrating on a few media commitments between regular spectating at Yorkshire's home games. This morning I had a cup of tea with this fantastic, cricket-loving man who is genuinely missing his involvement in the game.

"You know it is the first time in fifty years that I haven't been involved first-hand in this truly brilliant game," he told me in his broad northern accent. "Fifty years ago I walked into this ground to try out for the under-13 Yorkshire team and I have been back every single year since. It feels very strange starting a season without being involved. I miss it more than you could believe lad, I love this game and I have many fond memories as you can imagine lad, it is going to be hard lad, it is already hard lad."

After a cup of Yorkshire tea and a few funny stories I left this little champion to get on with watching the game he loves. Although he won't be seeing any more balls delivered from his favourite position behind the stumps, I am sure he will have just as much fun from behind the bowler's arm in various committee rooms around the world. As an umpire he was always in the contest, controlling proceedings with the command of any respected general, and as a gentleman he is a wonderful fellow to have as an official or even just as a tea-drinking partner.

Salute Dickie Bird, a fine Yorkshire gentleman and cricket icon who put international umpires on the map in the modern game.

From Leeds, JL