MUMBAI: One of the reasons that the referral system has been introduced in international cricket, albeit on an experimental basis, is the preferred reluctance of umpires such as Steve Bucknor to call for arbitration by the third umpire through the use of technology.
The West Indian had this habit of trusting his own faculties above what technology had to offer by way of several slow-motion television replays. Some cricketers, therefore, got the advantage of the TV replays, while the others did not, depending on the whims and fancy of umpire Bucknor.
Thus, the referral system was introduced, whereby the side batting and the fielding side were allowed up to two “unsuccessful” appeals against the umpire’s decisions. The batsmen at the crease could ask for a review (through TV replays) of the decision. If the verdict was reversed, then that appeal would not count and the batting side will still have two appeals left.
If the field umpire’s decision stands, then it will count for one “unsuccessful” appeal, with jut one more left. The same goes for the fielding side. The validity is for one innings.
It is too early to say whether the referral system is foolproof and will at all come to stay, but it is a fact that Steve Bucknor is saying good-bye to international cricket next week after a long and distinguished career, during which he stood in five World Cup finals, not to mention over 100 Tests and twice the number of ODIs.
It is, however, not in any great blaze of glory that he is quitting. Of late, his own perception and the grasp of the scene had become faulty.
During India’s tour of Australia last year, he became the cause of several controversies and the Indian team had reasons to feel aggrieved.
The team management asked him to be replaced after the Sydney Test fiasco, where Bucknor was shown in poor light after the TV replays.
It is a different matter that Bucknor is accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of having used its money-power to oust him. But how could he have ignored the Australian media’s large-scale criticism of his incompetence during the Test series. The ICC was not going to allow him to make further blunders, hence the reason to replace him with Billy Bowden.
After that series, Bucknor again came under fire for his poor umpiring in Pakistan and in England. He himself realized that it was time for him to go.
A cricket umpire who was also an international soccer referee, Steve Bucknor will be remembered as much for his early efficiency, as for the manner in which his competence deteriorated with the coming of over-dependence on technology.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind, however, that Steve Bucknor has been one of the finest umpires to stand in international matches.
