India, Sept. 27 -- Dickie Bird, who passed away earlier this week, arguably did more to the cause of his tribe than anyone before him and only a handful after him. He plied his trade as a cricket umpire principally in an age when neutral umpires had not yet become the norm, which often become a flashpoint for visiting teams. But not with Bird. He brought judgement that was sound and respected, touch that was light yet firm. He brought humour and a personality. He brought longevity, which several umpires after him built on, in their own ways, to burnish their credentials and further the craft of cricket umpiring.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times....