Dickie Bird, Giles Clarke handed Honours

Dickie Bird, the former international umpire, ECB chairman Giles Clarke and the captain of England's deaf cricket team, Umesh Valjee, have been given honours in the New Year's Honours List.

Bird, who umpired his final Test between England and India at Lord's in 1996, has been awarded an OBE for services and charity, having previously been given an MBE. Overall Bird officiated in 66 Tests and stood in three World Cup finals during a 28-year career as a first-class umpire. Meanwhile Clarke, chairman of the ECB since 2007, gets a CBE for services to cricket.

Valjee captained England's deaf team to victory in a Twenty20 triangular series in Australia earlier this year and has been awarded an MBE.

"This has been a marvellous year for cricket at all levels with the England team becoming the world's No.1 ranked Test side, a memorable finish to our county season and a 5% growth in participation at grass-roots level in our national network of ECB focus clubs," Clarke said.

"The entire game will be pleased to see that the excellent work which is being done to promote disability cricket has been acknowledged and, of course, that one of our most popular and best-loved umpires has received further national recognition. These awards are a tremendous accolade for cricket in this country and will provide a real boost for all those who work tirelessly to promote our national summer sport."