More than 20 years after a decision that upset millions of Indian fans, former umpire Steve Bucknor has admitted that he got it wrong. The decision involved Sachin Tendulkar and is still talked about today.
Bucknor's controversial decision
Bucknor, who retired in 2009, was regarded as one of the finest umpires in international cricket for over two decades. But like any umpire, he had a few controversial moments. One of the most talked-about incidents happened during the 2003–04 Test match between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane.
When Bucknor's LBW decision sparked controversy
In that match, Tendulkar was batting on just 3 when Australian pacer Jason Gillespie appealed loudly for LBW. The ball had struck Tendulkar high on the pads as he tried to leave it. Bucknor raised his finger, giving him out. However, TV replays later showed that the ball would have comfortably gone over the stumps.
Speaking in an interview with the West Indies Cricket Umpires' Association, Bucknor said that giving Tendulkar out LBW was one of the toughest decisions he has had to live with. He admitted it was a mistake and said people still remind him about it even today. “In life, mistakes happen,” he said, adding that he has accepted it and moved on.
"Giving Sachin Tendulkar out leg before wicket, and it's a matter of knowing that it was a mistake, but until this day, every day, people talk about it. Why did I give him out? Was he out and so on? But then in life, mistakes happen. I have accepted that it was a mistake, and life goes on" said Bucknor
At the time, many experts criticised the call. Commentator Tony Greig even described it as a “dreadful” decision. The match itself ended in a draw, with Sourav Ganguly scoring a fine 144.
That wasn’t the only time Bucknor made a controversial call involving Tendulkar. In 2005, during a Test against Pakistan at Eden Gardens, he gave Tendulkar out caught behind off Abdul Razzaq, despite a weak appeal. Replays later showed there was a clear gap between the bat and the ball.
Bucknor's career as a umpire
Years later, Tendulkar joked about the incidents. During a fan interaction in 2024, when asked about Bucknor, he said with a smile that umpires should make him wear boxing gloves while he was batting, so he couldn’t raise his finger.
Now 79, Bucknor stood in 128 Test matches between 1989 and 2009. He also officiated in five straight World Cup finals from 1992 to 2007, a record that shows how respected he was in the cricketing world despite a few unforgettable mistakes.