SA Footy

Five years ago affable Jamican Steve Bucknor was the best umpire in World Cricket. Today he is the worst. I cringe whenever I see Bucknor striding out to the middle these days. Surely, after 120 tests it is time for Bucknor to be put out to pasture.

Here we are, one day after an truly amazing test victory but for me the victory was a hollow one as Bucknor crucified the Indians and went from bad to worse with some sheer guesswork taking place at times.

Umpiring is hard work and we are all human and make mistakes but Bucknor's performances are getting worse and for me he dilutes the normal joy I get from test cricket. He's got to go.

regards,

REB

Yes he seems to be off with the fairies out in the middle these days and certainly put in a right Barry Crocker in the 2nd Test. Time for retirement I think!

However I think India's defeat rested more at the hands of their pathetic 2nd innings batting display on a dead pitch than Bucknor's umpiring. Like Ian Chappell said in commentary yesterday afternoon "The only problem anyone should have batting out there is if you have a dust allergy".

Ponting given a life in the first dig = 38 runs to Australia
Symonds given two lives in the first dig = 127 runs to Australia
Raul Dravid's decision yesterday = one wicket to Australia

Yes India were outplayed but just those few incidents tell a damming story. The umpires changed the result of this test and Bucknor should never umpire again. Benson wasn't that much better either.

regards,

REB

on abc radio they said it was probably his last match....dickie bird knew when to go (before mistakes started to happen reguarly) but steve obviously doesn't

What sh*ts me more are we get neutral umpires to stop home ground influence, yet when they make mistakes they blame the pressure from the home team !
FFS Just use the best umpires available and if that means that we use Simon Taufel so be it...
Bucknor should have gone 2 years ago IMO...

The last Test match wasn't a good one for Bucknor and it is a shame he will be leaving the umpiring game on that note, but unfortunately it has to happen.

I'd also love to see Simon Taufel umpiring Australia in Tests but I know this will never happen, this Test proved exactly why - which is a shame.

Rik E Boy wrote:Ponting given a life in the first dig = 38 runs to Australia
Symonds given two lives in the first dig = 127 runs to Australia
Raul Dravid's decision yesterday = one wicket to Australia

Yes India were outplayed but just those few incidents tell a damming story. The umpires changed the result of this test and Bucknor should never umpire again. Benson wasn't that much better either.

regards,

REB

Benson gave Ponting not out so you can't blame Bucknor for that one.

You would think it was a long day (or five days) to be standing in the sun for a 61 year old. I agree it's a shame to leave on a sour note but it has to be done. His glory days are past.

While I also agree that India were outplayed, to be on the bad side of decisions consistently does change the morale and confidence of the side affected.

Dont Blame Bucknor, Blame the ICC.
The ICC are ultimatley responsible for running of the Game at this Level and we all Know How Frickin Useless they are.
The ICC Sack Daryl Hair for upholding the Laws of the Game BUT then Continue to Employ Umpires Past their Used By Date. What a Joke it Was to have Had Shephard umpiring Tests up until Recently at his Age and Lack of Fitness.
Surley its commonsense to Have Younger umpires at this Level Like Tauffel, Dar etc, Bcos their Senses are a Lot Sharper. Rudi Koertzen is another that should be given the Flick.

And another thing that Shits me off is How Hard is it for an Umpire Just to Stick their Finger up when Giving Someone OUT Like Tauffel or Dar Does instead of Nodding their Head Like Bucknor, Crooked Finger Like Bowden, Taking 20 Seconds to Get it up like Rudi, Shepherd used to Point at the Batsmen, Venkat used to stick his finger up out to His side.

Hasn't Bowden got arthritis in his finger?

Yeah he does have arthritis in his finger. That is why he cannot straighten it properly when he gives someone out.

Why Doesn't he then use his other hand??? Anyway, Thats NO excuse for carrying on like a Clown with all his other Signals. He seems to think that the Public come to see him.
I'm Not saying he's Not a Good umpire, Just saying that he should just cut out the antics.

jackpot jim wrote:Why Doesn't he then use his other hand??? Anyway, Thats NO excuse for carrying on like a Clown with all his other Signals. He seems to think that the Public come to see him.
I'm Not saying he's Not a Good umpire, Just saying that he should just cut out the antics.

I agree entirely. Bowden does behave like a "Silly Billy"

Rik E Boy wrote:Five years ago affable Jamican Steve Bucknor was the best umpire in World Cricket. Today he is the worst. I cringe whenever I see Bucknor striding out to the middle these days. Surely, after 120 tests it is time for Bucknor to be put out to pasture.

Here we are, one day after an truly amazing test victory but for me the victory was a hollow one as Bucknor crucified the Indians and went from bad to worse with some sheer guesswork taking place at times.

Umpiring is hard work and we are all human and make mistakes but Bucknor's performances are getting worse and for me he dilutes the normal joy I get from test cricket. He's got to go.

regards,

REB

Right on the money with this post.
ICC should have been all over him when the nodding garbage started.He has been an embarrassment for years now.How often do we see the finger not even go up when someone is dismissed or the umpires consult each other ...how bloody hard is it?.Watched a replay of a a Mitch Johnston wicket off a no ball in and no-one knew because Billy Bowden only raised the arm and didn't actually make a call of"no-ball" as the rules require.The front on camera had the whole delivery stride and well after in perfect view and there was no call at all.Even the batsman was on the move to the sheds. Umpires leave ya ego's hanging on the gate please.Thankfully the Brits have the guts to enforce a mandatory retirement age that saw Dickie and Shepherd spelled before they became too bad.

rod_rooster wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:Ponting given a life in the first dig = 38 runs to Australia
Symonds given two lives in the first dig = 127 runs to Australia
Raul Dravid's decision yesterday = one wicket to Australia

Yes India were outplayed but just those few incidents tell a damming story. The umpires changed the result of this test and Bucknor should never umpire again. Benson wasn't that much better either.

regards,

REB

Benson gave Ponting not out so you can't blame Bucknor for that one.

Told you Benson wasn't that much better.

regards,

REB

bucknor should definitley be finished after this - or perhaps give him a reduced role ion bangladesh matches mentoring some new test umpires as he has a wealth of experiance and som enew umpires should be blooded soon

in my opinion dar is one of the better umpires as he doesnt seem to be intimidated by player antics and seems to make decisions based on merit rather than reputation

taufall should also be given the ability to umpire australian games as any mistakes he makes will be scrutined but fortunately he doesnt make many

koertzen is now on the wane slightly but still gets the majority right.

it has been good to see tiffen back in the south african series (which has seeminly been very well umpired) after being discarded after the 2002/3 ashes series for daring to give 50/50 decisions against the australians

I only got home from work 5 mins ago and before I go on my run i'll put this forward.In 2001 series in India Sourav Gangully repeatedly turned up late to the toss at the start of the game even though Australian captain Steve Waugh made it clear it was not acceptable as an international captain to do so. Also in the same series India were using excessive appealing even when they knew the batsman was not out and pressured the trigger finger umpires on multiple occasions. Also if India question Australias sportsmanship then do they applaud the Australian captain when he arrives to the crease as a sign of respect, of course not insead they do barrell rolls and act like d***heads when they dismiss him. Australia are not angels but no team is in the modern game. Both teams are as bad as one another.Get on with the game

i always thought bucknor was a bit of a cowboy

The ICC have refused to bow to the BCCI for once and are keeping Bucknor for the third test - but Benson is being replaced by Rauf (Pakistan), but that was intended (ie nothing to do with what happened in the 2nd test).

Having said that, I agree that maybe it's time Bucknor retired or started mentoring younger umpires. He was fantastic in his day, but now's the time to move on.

On the topic of cricket umpiring it's interesting to note:
- Neutral umpires were introduced due to the standard of Indian umpires in India
- There are NO Indian umpires on the ICC elite panel
- It appears there's only 1 Indian umpire (Suresh Shastri I believe) who can even do ODI's in India

Here is what the Indians think of the umpiring performance in the last test match.