KOLKATA, March 19: The Indian media were crying hoarse on Saturday after the controversial dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar on the third day of the second cricket Test.
“Slow Death gets Tendulkar” said the Hindustan Times in a front page comment while the Telegraph screamed “Bucknor spanner in Sachin’s effort at record,” as the media mourned the fall of their star.
Standing in his 100th Test, Bucknor was perhaps deceived by the deviation of the ball from Abdul Razzaq late in the day and adjudged the batsman caught behind by Kamran Akmal for 52.
“Bucknor blundered big time with cricket’s biggest star. Just when he was playing like he hasn’t in a long, long time. Just when he and Rahul Dravid had taken India to a point from where they couldn’t possibly lose the second Test,” wrote the Hindustan Times.
The umpire, known as “Slow Death” for taking quite a while in giving verdicts, did think hard before raising his finger that left Tendulkar staring at him in disbelief. Angered and upset the batsman had no choice but to walk off.
“Decisions are said to even out over time – Tendulkar will remember getting the benefit of doubt in Mohali – but can the little champion help feeling done in again six years after his dismissal sparked an Eden clear-out? Pakistan went on to win that Test. By getting Sachin, they must be thinking they can win this one too,” the paper commented that reflected well the Indian anger.
“As twilight set in rather prematurely and the floodlights were set aglow, Bucknor made the dreadful decision. One day he will have to rue it despite all the happy memories of his centenary Test,” wrote The Telegraph.
The Times of India under the headline “Bucknor’s wrong’un gets Sachin” said that Pakistan and Bucknor were not just adding up right for Tendulkar at the Eden Gardens.
“The West Indian, in the thick of things as leg umpire when Tendulkar was controversially ruled run out during the 1999 Asian Test Championship match, has done it again, this time raising his dreaded finger for a ‘caught behind’ when replays revealed the daylight between as ball passed bat.”
The paper quoted Bucknor as saying that he had not seen the replays but those who had, told him that he had made a wrong decision.