Bucknor Finally Gives His Decision!

[Desi]

Bucknor gives decision a year after match ends
And the thrilling news of the world's first medium-pace academy
Anand Ramachandran
September 24, 2010
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"And Lord, if I have found grace in your eyes, let me not have to shake Ponting's spit-stained hand" © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Roger Binny | Steve Bucknor | Madan Lal | Madan Lal

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, known to take his time over decisions, really went overboard last week when he turned up at Mitchell Johnson's residence and shocked the Aussie bowler by granting an lbw appeal he had made against Ashwell Prince - in the Test match played between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town in March 2009, which was, incidentally, Bucknor's final game.

"It was the strangest thing," said a visibly shaken Johnson. "I heard this knock on the door, and when I opened it, it was Steve Bucknor. He proceeded to slowly raise his finger, nod and murmur 'out' in his unmistakable baritone. I had absolutely no clue what was going on - until he explained the situation."

It turns out that, after more than a year of careful consideration, Bucknor had finally decided that Johnson's appeal indeed had merit, and that Prince was plumb in front. So the umpire decided to do the right thing and, even though it was a bit late in the day, give the batsman out.

"I know he takes his time but this is beyond ridiculous!" thundered the furious Australia skipper, Ricky Ponting. "The decision could have changed the match. Prince went on to score 150, putting the game out of our reach. A few seconds is all right, but 18 months to give an lbw decision is a bit much, even for Bucknor," he added in frustration.

Bucknor, however, insisted that he had done no wrong, saying, "Everyone knows that the most important thing is to get the decision right. That's why I spent the last year or so carefully studying video replays, photo analyses and reliving the moment in my mind, until I was sure that Prince was most definitely out and had to go."

He also admitted that since that particular match was shown only a couple of times in the intervening period, he often had to resort to carefully studying replays of other, completely irrelevant lbws from unrelated games that he didn't even officiate in. When a reporter had the temerity to suggest that this was a tad nonsensical, Bucknor retaliated angrily, saying, "You media people are never happy. You've always said that umpires should use the TV replays whenever possible - which is exactly what I have done. So what's the problem?"

Bucknor's press conference was cut short as he had to leave for South America urgently, to blow the whistle for an off-side decision against El Salvador in their football World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands Antilles in 1988.

Meanwhile, former Indian Test players Roger Binny and Madan Lal are teaming up to establish what could possibly be the world's first medium-pace academy.

"With so much fuss being made over fast bowling and spin bowling, we believe that there is an immediate and urgent need to revive the dying art of classical medium pace," Madan Lal said, speaking to reporters. "There are very few bowlers today who can get batsmen out through sheer tedium, wearing them down as they wait for seemingly interminable periods for the delivery to eventually reach them, or surprising them with vicious bouncers that rear up at their knees.

"Roger and I are committed to creating a generation of youngsters who will grow up with a deep love and passion for the craft of medium pace."

"We wish to revive the old Indian tradition of bowlers whose run-ups were quicker than their deliveries," added Binny.

Binny and Madan Lal will be inviting a galaxy of medium-pace legends to be guest coaches at the academy - including Gavin Larsen, Ian Austin, Mudassar Nazar and Mohinder Amarnath. They are still undecided on whether to invite Raghuram Bhat, as nobody has yet managed to figure out what exactly he used to bowl.

While the response hasn't been overwhelming, Madan Lal reassured us that the seats were filling up at a gentle, steady pace.

Anand Ramachandran is a writer and humourist based in Mumbai. He blogs at bosey.co.in. All the quotes and "facts" in this article are made up (but you knew that already, didn't you?)


I thought it was an entertaining read xD

[eViLrAcEr]

We wish to revive the old Indian tradition of bowlers whose run-ups were quicker than their deliveries

They already have a whole generation and perhaps the next 2 more generations of that

[Mohsin]

Binny and Madan Lal will be inviting a galaxy of medium-pace legends to be guest coaches at the academy - including Gavin Larsen, Ian Austin, Mudassar Nazar and Mohinder Amarnath. They are still undecided on whether to invite Raghuram Bhat, as nobody has yet managed to figure out what exactly he used to bowl.

They should just invite every single 'fast' bowler to have represented india since their entry into world cricket

[Desi]

Originally Posted by eViLrAcEr They already have a whole generation and perhaps the next 2 more generations of that

My favorite part too lol!

[AZ]

a top class umpire, it was a disgrace what the Indian team did to him.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar a top class umpire, it was a disgrace what the Indian team did to him.

Can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not ><

If no - I don't think he was that great...was pretty average and if I was Indian I would be raged (have you seen our umpire hate threads?)

If yes - While I don't think he was great, there were/are certainly worse umpires around

[AZ]

the man stood in something like 3 World Cup Finals, and you think he was average? was the absolute top umpire in the 90s.

everyone can have a bad game, Bucknor was a class umpire otherwise.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar the man stood in something like 3 World Cup Finals, and you think he was average? was the absolute top umpire in the 90s. everyone can have a bad game, Bucknor was a class umpire otherwise.

In the 90s he was good, I won't even try to argue with you then because that would be futile. But once the decade turned he was past his sell by date. By the time that Indian series came about he was faaar past that date.

[AZ]

well I don't know how one can say that for sure, there's never been talk of umpiring 'form' or anything like that.

[Desi]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar well I don't know how one can say that for sure, there's never been talk of umpiring 'form' or anything like that.

True, I think we can all agree that there should be one though. Frankly I refuse to believe that the top umpires of the world are the ones currently in practice.



But that's besides the point I guess.

[ace2705]

[zimran72]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar the man stood in something like 3 World Cup Finals, and you think he was average? was the absolute top umpire in the 90s. everyone can have a bad game, Bucknor was a class umpire otherwise.

You will always bring up the past when judging people in the present. Like Salman Butt is class because he scored a 100 against Australia in 2004.

Steve bucknor had been crap for a couple of years before he retired.

[rahulrulezz]

It's funny how some Pakistanis always praise Bucknor just cuz of blind hatered against India and blaming India for ruining his pathetic career not knowing that Pakistan had issues with almost every umpire(specially Hair and Rudi both called Pakistani team cheats)

[AZ]

like I said, umpiring 'form' can't be easily debated...but what is a fact is that the man had a glittering career, and didn't deserve that kind of treatment that was dished out to him in Sydney.

[farooq_pzb]

Bucknor had a problem with India, similar to Doctrove with Pakistan.

[rahulrulezz]

Oh and who can forget Bucknors special when he gave Sachin out against Razaq caught by Akmal. Razaq was more shocked than Tendulkar himself as there was huge gap between bat and ball. Raza expressions were pricless as he didn't even appeal. He lookedlike a kid who found 100£ on the street.

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz It's funny how some Pakistanis always praise Bucknor just cuz of blind hatered against India and blaming India for ruining his pathetic career not knowing that Pakistan had issues with almost every umpire(specially Hair and Rudi both called Pakistani team cheats)

Hair, Doctrove...

[rahulrulezz]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Zulfiqar like I said, umpiring 'form' can't be easily debated...but what is a fact is that the man had a glittering career, and didn't deserve that kind of treatment that was dished out to him in Sydney.

Atleast he was treated better than D.Hair who was banned from umpiring just cuz he penalized Pakistan for ball tempering. Inzi said that his team didn't temper but when Afridi tempered openly by chewing the ball it seems that Hair cud have been right.

[Mohsin]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz Atleast he was treated better than D.Hair who was banned from umpiring just cuz he penalized Pakistan for ball tempering. Inzi said that his team didn't temper but when Afridi tempered openly by chewing the ball it seems that Hair cud have been right.

You know Tendulkar tampered with the ball in the last game...as did Dravid. I didnt see it happen, i have no evidence but when they've done it before so it seems i could be right

[Passion4Pakistan]

Bucknor Was one of the Great Umpire Ever with No doubts. But don't know why, Whenever He stands on a Match on which Australia is Playing, He started favoring the Aussies...

[AZ]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz Atleast he was treated better than D.Hair who was banned from umpiring just cuz he penalized Pakistan for ball tempering. Inzi said that his team didn't temper but when Afridi tempered openly by chewing the ball it seems that Hair cud have been right.

Hair tried to blackmail the ICC too, how conveniently you've forgotten that.

Ball-tampering and having a bad game are very,very different situations. Both umpires in Sydney were terrible, not just Bucknor.

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz It's funny how some Pakistanis always praise Bucknor just cuz of blind hatered against India and blaming India for ruining his pathetic career not knowing that Pakistan had issues with almost every umpire(specially Hair and Rudi both called Pakistani team cheats)

No we praise him because the guy stood in 128 Tests and 5 World Cup finals! Hair is hated because he's a racist, Rudi is disliked because he was a crap umpire!

[cricfan967]

Looks like Dunya News have their next top headline

[Desi]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz It's funny how some Pakistanis always praise Bucknor just cuz of blind hatered against India and blaming India for ruining his pathetic career not knowing that Pakistan had issues with almost every umpire(specially Hair and Rudi both called Pakistani team cheats)

First of all you should be careful with your words lol. It's not like every Pakistani (or even a majority for that matter) supports Bucknor just because he screwed the Indians over in a match. People dislike him, or like him, for different reasons. Hard to take anything you say seriously when you say a moronic statement like that lol.

And secondly, you can't compare what Bucknor did vs. what Hair did. Bucknor was blind/deaf and couldn't umpire at all. Hair, in a passive aggressive way, labeled a team as cheaters. Why wouldn't we have an issue against that?

IDK what the facepalm smiley is, but insert that here please.

[TigerJat]

bucknor was not a very good umpire, but i don't think he was biased.

hair on the other hand appeared very biased

[dinakar]

Bucknor's problems with India started not just in that 2007 series, but right from the 2004 series. He not only screwed up on the last test, he openly made sarcastic gesture towards Dravid after the ball tampering issue. That prompted Ganguly and Wright to make severe critics against him in their post-series report to ICC.

[eViLrAcEr]

Originally Posted by rahulrulezz Oh and who can forget Bucknors special when he gave Sachin out against Razaq caught by Akmal. Razaq was more shocked than Tendulkar himself as there was huge gap between bat and ball. Raza expressions were pricless as he didn't even appeal. He lookedlike a kid who found 100£ on the street.

VIDEO PLEASE!!!

I liked Bucknor...but who am I...heck, I liked David Shepherd too. Just my opinion. Both respected the game.

[UmarAkmals-fan]

"We wish to revive the old Indian tradition of bowlers whose run-ups were quicker than their deliveries," added Binny.