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Silver Ferns LIVE from 7.30pm'Can you walk?': The moment Dickie Bird gave Smithy his marching orders at Lord's
Ian Smith • September 24th, 2025 10:23 am
If you look on social media or go through the English press, you will not see too many people lauded for their officiating in any sport to the extent that you'll see Harold 'Dickie' Bird.
Bird was an absolute genius on the field as a cricket umpire. His judgement was unbelievable. He had no support, no help, no third umpire. He called the front line no balls, he called the sideline no balls, and then he looked up and called dismissals at the other end.
He got it right at such a high percentage. He had such respect of the players - if you did make a mistake, you accepted it, and you walked off.
Dickie Bird meets with Kane Williamson in 2015 | Photo: Graham Morris/Photosport
In all honesty, Dickie Bird was a true gentleman as well. He was so good for the game. He umpired with his great mate David Shepherd and as a combo, they were brilliant.
I've got many stories about Bird in terms of his attitude on and off the field, how friendly he was, plus how correct and honest he was about making his decisions.
One I can recall is when I was batting in a Test match at Lord's against Ian Botham.
He bowled me a slow bouncer and I managed to clobber onto it and got a few through midwicket. I got back down the other end and 'Beefy' ran in and bowled me a genuine bouncer which was so quick that I only got halfway through my shot - it just flicked my glove and hit me on the chin strap of my helmet and ballooned to Allan Lamb who caught it in the gully.
I went down because I was off balance due to the extra pace of the ball. I just looked around and Dickie Bird was walking down towards me from the Member's End, I was at the Nursery End, and he said, "son, you all right?"
I said, "yeah, I think so."
He asked, "can you walk?" and I replied "yeah, I can walk."
He responded, "well, you better start because you're out."
That was a great memory of Dickie Bird for me - he was just fantastic. And it was a hell of a decision too because I thought I might've gotten away with it, but not a chance.
There will be very sad people in England in particular, but also around the world, there are messages from great players who would never say a bad thing about the legendary Harold 'Dickie' Bird. He was one of a kind.
Rest In Peace, Dickie. I hope when you get upstairs you and Shep can officiate the same as you did on the park.
Tune into Ian Smith on Sport Nation Mornings, Monday to Wednesday from 9am.
Time for Smithy's return to beige! | Sport Nation Mornings
