Neither Buck-nor Luck
I wake up early in the morning and switch to the cricket (parents wake up even earlier!). It's a surprise: not the 2 wickets in the left column (Aussie-style), but the fact that here is Mr. Bucknor at one end. Though it is Mark Benson who first gets a couple wrong, by the end of the day it's India's most favourite (!) wicket-taker from the land of nod who has left his mark. Give Benson the benefit of the doubt - it's just the company he's keeping right now.It's naive to blame an entire day's outcome on one man, but the Indians and Steve Bucknor just don't get along, especially in Tests in Australia. In 2004, some of his decisions in Sydney may have cost India the Test and the series. Everyone knows you need some luck to win against Australia, but enter Mr. Bucknor and luck takes a vacation. The Indians could justifiably take a day off, ruing the loss of Zaheer and later the missed chances.But back they've got to be the next day: it ain't over yet.
Putting on Nielsen's hat, he must be worried at the sudden fragility of his middle-order. This is the worst shot I have seen Michael Clarke not offer. R.P.Singh got the best of all the left-handers he bowled to, but Hogg, once again, showed the way. I like this George Bradley - like many late Aussie bloomers before him, especially fellow-Hs Hussey and Hodge, he's doin' it when he's been given a chance.
3 comments:
In 2003-04, had Mother Teresa been alive, she would’ve felt the pain inflicted by Steve Bucknor to Indian team in the last SCG match, with series locked at 1-1. Many members of the current Indian team have disclosed in many informal interviews, how those wounds are still fresh in their minds. Former Indian Captain went on to say that some of the decisions were pretty straight forward & they reached a stage in the match when they lost confidence in Steve Bucknor completely.
Same thing happened yesterday. If you look in detail Phil Jaque’s dismissal yesterday, you would see that Bucknor raised his finger only after Jaques walked off; otherwise I can bet Bucknor had no mood to give him out. Symond’s nick was even audible from the stands. Its completely baffling to know how Bucknor could miss it.
It has to be one of the 3 reasons. Either he couldn’t hear it due to Old age Or he doesn’t like Indians Or some freak minds would say, it’s a case of Match fixing. Well, its very hard to even talk about the match fixing option without any proof.
I hope it’s the first option but I’m internally convinced that it’s the 2nd one i.e. he doesn’t like Indians or Indian Team. I have many reasons or facts to prove that. I’ve lived & worked in Jamaica (where Bucknor lives). I met so many people in Jamaica who literally “hate” Indians. The main reason is that there are so many Indians who had come to Jamaica legally/illegally & took control of most of their businesses & left all the petty Jobs for Jamaicans. So internally they had this grudge against all Indians. I have many stories to prove that. So, the more I see Bucknor behaving with Indians, the more my Jamaican memories get refreshed. If someone remembers the last series (SCG test), after an aggressive appeal, the way Bucknor charged towards Parthiv Patel & the way he talked to him with pointed finger, anyone who has experience working in Foreign country would tell you, it was racial hatred. Its pretty strong word but unfortunately its true.
Some might say Cricket is a gentelman’s game & we should respect all umpiring decisions no matter how harsh they are. I don’t believe in that. After all, there are player’s career & lives attached to these decisions. I’ve played for 10 years & can relate to it. I hope Indian team makes a formal complaint against Bucknor & take him out of Elite umpire’s list. His experience can be used to train other umpires but let’s not let him spoil the game like this. Cricketing world will be lot better without him.
I also agree that it is point #2, though Bucknor has been fooling around with other teams as well.
Rememeber Bucknor's 100th test, when he was felcitated in Kokotta? He returned the favour in that very match when he gave Tendulkar out so erroneously.
Clarke is still the best 'leaver' in world cricket. There aren't many who know where the off-stump is as well as Clarke.
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