Of the many aspects of the game of cricket, one is the fascination of its followers who browse through the record books in search of interesting details and statistics, the game, its players and its administrators have to offer.
The milestones and landmarks reached are mind-boggling and makes people wonder if those incredible records were ever achievable.
Sir Donald Bradman, considered to be the greatest batsman that ever lived, kept statisticians on their feet with his remarkable ability to make and break records. His achievements are many including two triple centuries in Tests against England, one made in a whole day’s play at Headingley. He also hit a hundred in three overs in Australia’s grade cricket. In those days, the over used to be worth eight balls. He did not, however, reach a century of Tests as the modern day players have managed to do so, despite an unreachable average of 99.6. He played 52 Tests.
Today, the game has changed a lot.
There are a lot of players who have played a hundred Tests or over 200 One-Day games. Browse through the record books and you will find a number of famous names reaching that landmark including the present day great, Sachin Tendulkar who reached his 100th Test in 2002 at The Oval. However, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, it would not be one of the players who will have the honour of reaching the 100 mark. Instead, it is the umpire from West Indies, the 58-year-old Jamaican, Steve Bucknor. But the impressive looking 6ft 3 Bucknor wasn’t always a cricket lover.
Born in Montega Bay, St. James, Bucknor’s initial interest in sports led him to play soccer for the country’s junior team. He was the goalkeeper. And, how good he was can be judged by the fact that once during a match between the Brazilian Under-20, he and conceded only one goal!
Later he became a FIFA referee and even officiated in a World Cup qualifying match between El Salvador and Dutch Antilles. A change in the FIFA rules saved Bucknor the dilemma of having to chose later, between being an umpire or a referee. As he recalls, “In 1992 the world body lowered the age of its referees from 50 to 45. I did not have a choice and had to say goodbye to soccer.” And what a good decision it proved to be. Today, Steve Bucknor is one of the best in his game. Nodding gently before raising his finger after an appeal is his hallmark. “I have never been hasty in making decisions,” he says. “By nature I like to take my time to do things. Patience is a virtue. I am happy with this method,” says the West Indian with a smile. His decision making method, the cool headed presence made him rise rapidly to the upper echelons of the game to umpire the 1992 World Cup after having officiated only four Test matches and a handful of One-Day Internationals. Since, he has officiated in three more World Cup finals, in 1996, 1999 and 2003 in South Africa. He admits also with an open mind that it has not been smooth sailing en route to his 100th Test; he has been erroneous at times. “I won’t go into details but I have also apologized to players who got affected. A human being is going to err,” says Bucknor.
“I am just plain happy that I have officiated for 16 years at the highest level. There is no other feeling — if I am thankful to anybody, it is God alone,” he says.
Talking about his becoming the first umpire to reach the landmark, he says, “It has happened along the way, but doing four World Cups I consider is a real achievement for me.” In the years since, he recalls the most significant change in cricket which was the introduction of match referees in 1991-92. “I have no complains the way technology has come in the game. Match referees have been the biggest help for an umpire. I am not uneasy about TV replays. Look, it is good to show different angles. However, the commentators should emphasize that the umpire only has the benefit of one angle.” Bucknor stresses.
He rates his colleague David Shephard of England as the one who’s the tops in the game because of his soft, cool, honest and simple. Diplomatically he avoids naming his favourite batsman or a bowler; “I like batsmen who play well and bowlers who bowl a good spell.” In his experience, he says Steve Waugh was the toughest captain, always demanding hundred per cent from everyone. Inzamam he thinks is quieter, cool and does not say much and Ganguly is tough too. “I do not like sledging by the players and I do not wish to see that,” he says. “I always try to be fair. I am one of the umpires who feels happy giving people not out,” he said. Nevertheless, that didn’t stop someone from threatening him with dire circumstances.
Both he and Pakistan’s Aleem Dar were threatened by an anonymous caller during a Test against England a few months ago. “The caller had said on the phone that he is going to get rid of Dar and me and shoot us because he thought we were unfair in the match. I think it was hoax call.” Still, Bucknor says it was the first time that he had been threatened to that extent. “I briefly thought of going back to Jamaica but then I thought that I am stronger than that. If umpires react to threats like that then there will be a flood of them. Also I grew up in Jamaica where threats are a daily occurrence. I am never worried about that,” says a confident Steve Bucknor.
Of the many aspects of the game of cricket, one is the fascination of its followers who browse through the record books in search of interesting details and statistics, the game, its players and its administrators have to offer.
